Talk about strategic gambles? Enter Ilia Topuria in 2025. In the unforgiving theater of combat, where crowns are won in blood and sweat, Topuria has made a decision that has left the fighting world breathless. The soon-to-be-former 145lbs champ has cast his golden belt into the winds of fate, choosing instead to venture into the realm of the lightweights. For now, the ghost of his reign still lingers—a specter that will haunt the division until Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes clash on April 12 at UFC 314. This is when the final thread connecting Topuria to his former kingdom will be severed forever. But the Spanish-Georgian has bigger plans!
‘La Leyenda’ wants to storm Islam Makhachev’s castle and take away his 155lbs strap. But the Dagestani, weary of featherweight champions knocking at his door, has turned his gaze elsewhere. It is safe to say that Makhachev has no appetite for what would be a third course of the same meal after Volk’s UFC 284 and UFC 294 attempts. And so Topuria finds himself in purgatory. Neither champion nor challenger, but simply one among many sharks in the infested waters of 155lbs. But Topuria isn’t backing down. His recent callouts to Charles Oliveira and his long-time back and forth with Team Makhachev are well documented.
“All my training is focused on Islam or Charles because I don’t see any other opponents,” Topuria told the media during a press conference in Spain. “Neither of them seems to dare (to fight me). These are the symptoms of fear, we all know that, but it’s normal, I’d be scared too,”
Amidst this hubbub, former two-division champ and analyst Daniel Cormier has come up with a word of caution for Topuria. DC believes that the path from featherweight glory to lightweight obscurity is paved with the broken dreams of fighters who reached too far, too soon. And it is no joke! The 155lbs division is no mere battlefield—it is a labyrinth filled with minotaurs. Justin Gaethje’s sledgehammer fists, Charles Oliveira’s serpentine submissions, Arman Tsarukyan’s relentless pressure, Dustin Poirier’s battle-hardened heart. Relentless battles. And when all of this is done, the final Dagestani boss enters!
“I think the reaction and reception that he’s [Topuria’s] gotten since moving up has pointed to that [Topuria’s immense star-power]. And honestly, I believe it’s rooted in respect because so many athletes, myself included, when you go up, you keep the belt,” Cormier admitted on his YouTube channel.
“You want that security, you want that blanket of comfort to say. If it goes sideways, I still got my other belt.” He said “No I’m not doing that. I’m just going up, I’m going to go and fight at 155. I’m staying there, let these other guys get a chance to become champions. Will that work out in the long run? I don’t know. But he carries this aura of invincibility about him right now and that is what is allowing him to make these types of decisions,” he added.
MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria Feb 17, 2024. Anaheim, California, USA Ilia Topuria fights against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Anaheim Honda Center California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20240217_gav_sv5_175
‘DC’, of course, did keep his light heavyweight belt when he moved up to heavyweight and beat Stipe Miocic to become a double champ back in 2018 at UFC 226. But what made Topuria different from the likes of him, Cormier felt, was ‘La Leyenda’s supreme self-confidence and ‘aura of invincibility’. But with the uncertainty around Topuria’s status in the division, Cormier felt there were only two guys he could fight next.
Daniel Cormier gives his take on who Ilia Topuria will fight next
“This kid seems to be doing the right things. Sadly we don’t have any idea what he’s doing next. Charles said he wants the title shot, I think Arman Tsarukyan needs a fight. I think that would be great, I think that’d be an amazing fight. I just don’t know that those guys are going to be fighting each other because Arman was a guy that was getting the title fight and now he has to fight again,” Cormier said.
Indeed, there seem to be only three people in the division Topuria could fight at the moment. Two of them are title contenders! Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira; while the third, Arman Tsarukyan, has been sent back to the drawing by Dana White after pulling out of his UFC 311 title fight in January.
Makhachev has expressed interest in fighting Gaethje next. And champions do get a say in deciding who they fight next. So Oliveira and Tsarukyan seem like the two best candidates to fight Topuria. Some, such as Michael Chandler have suggested that Topuria could fight a lower-ranked guy like Mateusz Gamrot. While others believe BMF champ Max Holloway should fight Topuria. In short, Ilia Topuria has nothing at the moment. Not even an opponent. What do you think about Daniel Cormier’s take on Ilia Topuria moving to lightweight?
The post Daniel Cormier Fears Ilia Topuria Losing ‘Aura of Invincibility’ With Charles Oliveira & Islam Makhachev Callouts appeared first on EssentiallySports.
