Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria as the UFC 317 headliner was gaining some serious traction. But now, that buzz has cooled off, especially after Belal Muhammad failed to defend his belt against the Aussie powerhouse. With one half of the UFC’s most anticipated main event still up in the air, the spotlight now shifts to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. Both lightweight contenders seem to be on a collision course, possibly aiming for their shot during International Fight Week.
Arman Tsarukyan briefly fell off track after missing his shot at UFC 311 against the reigning 155-pound champ. Still, he knew International Fight Week could come calling. Speaking to Red Corner MMA, he said, “If they offer me this, I will start my camp right away, keep my diet, get in full preparation, and zone in.”
The Armenian native is a strong contender for sure, but Charles Oliveira might have the edge. After ‘JDM’ won at UFC 315, Oliveira’s camp wasted no time, with Dhiego Lima declaring, “We are ready with the pen in hand.”
Ilia Topuria definitely has some stellar competition lined up, and the former champ knows it. That’s why he’s not slacking one bit in his training. In fact, he’s been pushing himself with the workout he hates the most, 12 reps of 100-meter sprints. Day after day, this grueling routine has helped sculpt him into peak physical shape ahead of his comeback. The Georgian Spaniard even shared a clip on Instagram titled “The workout I like the LEAST,” showing him grinding it out in the field, building up serious cardio.
The former featherweight champ has never taken it easy. His training sessions are always intense and unforgiving. With a $2 million top-tier gym, a solid team of experts, and his brother Alex Topuria by his side, he’s constantly pushing to become the best version of himself. Whether it’s Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, or anyone else, ‘El Matador’ will need every bit of that edge to survive the shark tank that is the lightweight division.
Still, one big question hangs in the air: Which title will Ilia Topuria fight for, now that Islam Makhachev is planning a move to welterweight? And when it comes to breaking down complex MMA situations, there’s no better voice than Chael Sonnen. The former title challenger has a very interesting take on the current lightweight picture, so let’s dive into what he had to say.
Cheal Sonnen reveals the exact reason why Ilia Topuria cannot fight for the lightweight title at UFC 317
The lightweight title picture couldn’t be more of a headache, especially for Ilia Topuria. He’s been gunning to crack Islam Makhachev’s jaw and claim the belt, especially after relinquishing his featherweight title. But that dream might not come true at UFC 317, at least not while Makhachev is still holding things up in the division. According to UFC goat Chael Sonnen, who broke it down in a recent YouTube video, Topuria’s path to lightweight gold isn’t as clear-cut as it seems.
Sonnen said on his YouTube channel, “The problem is, this same article speaks to the idea that if Islam were to go up! He would be going up, and he would be challenging Jack for champ-champ status, and that’s the part that becomes Impossible. It’s impossible for Ilia Topuria to fight for a world title at 317, possibly against Charles for a vacated bout. You can’t do that in the presence of champ-champ!
And bingo, ‘The Bad Guy’ nails it. Islam Makhachev hasn’t vacated his lightweight title yet and is likely heading into a super fight with Jack Della Maddalena for simultaneous gold. That leaves Ilia Topuria in a tricky spot. As long as the Dagestani juggernaut holds onto the belt, Topuria may be forced to chase an interim title, something he didn’t have to deal with in his previous division.
With International Fight Week fast approaching, key details are bound to unfold soon, including who Ilia Topuria will be facing and what’s truly at stake. One thing’s for sure: the spotlight will be on ‘El Matador’ at UFC 317. So, who do you think he’ll go up against? Drop your predictions in the comments below.
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