Ilia Topuria made waves when he left the UFC -Fedweight title, but it was all part of the undefeated plan of the champion.
The Georgian won the title in a fantastic version on UFC 298, where Ilia Topuria Alexander Volkanovski eliminated and earned him the performance of the night bonus.
However, he dropped the title after just one defense, with Topuria decided to leave the featherweight division to challenge the UFC light weight title instead.
Although it seemed like a hasty decision, Topuria had already made a decision before one of his most impressive knockout victories so far.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria decided before he defeated Max Holloway that he would move to the UFC Lightweight Division
Topuria knew that he would leave his belt and go to Welterweight long before he eliminated Max Holloway on UFC 308.
The former UFC champion Featherweight told the New York Post Sports that he already knew he was going to the light before he defeated Holloway and told his team that it was his last fight in the division.
Topuria, however, admitted that he could not leave the division without looking at Holloway, so he did the right one and hit him to end his title for a victory.
“Even before the fight I was sure that I would leave the division. I already spoke with my family, with my team, and I told everyone that this is the last fight.” Said Topuria.
“This is the last weight I do. After this we go to the lightweight division.
“When I became a world champion, I defeated Volkanovski, and then I had Max Holloway in my division. I had something like that, I can't leave the division without fighting him.
“I have to fight against him. I have to beat him. And this is what I did.”
Topuria hit Holloway in the third round of their fight before he left his UFC -Fedweight title.
Ilia Topuria strives to become a two -weight champion against Charles Oliveira on UFC 317
After leaving the featherweight division, UFC 317 Topuria gives the chance to become a two-weight champion in the promotion.
Topuria has left his title to insist on a lightweight championship awards at Islam Makhachev, but the champion did the same as the Georgian and gave his title distance to make the leap to goodweight.
Instead, Charles Oliveira will be confronted with Topuria for the UFC light weight title, aimed at two-time champion by beating the unbeaten Topuria on UFC 317.
Oliveira can break more records by winning in Las Vegas, although the unbeaten Topuria will be the most confident to enter their Blockbuster match for the empty title.