UFC Pound-For-Pound King Ilia Topuria has a willing opponent for a potential switch to the Welterweight Division.
Ilia Topuria is MMA's conversation after winning a second UFC title by eliminating Charles Oliveira on UFC 317 in Las Vegas last Saturday. Topuria remains unbeaten in his career and has risen to one of the biggest stars of promotion.
Topuria supported his immense pre-Fight confidence by winning in the exact way he predicted at UFC 317. He is now one of the handful of UFC legends to win belts in several divisions, which joined the ranks of Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier and Georges St-Pierre.
Although they have been removed from his UFC 317 victory for days, Topuria wants the opportunity to write more history in his fight future.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Belal Muhammad 'Ilia Topuria's Welterweight Welterweight Welemen Welterweight while he pursues the third UFC title
Topuria raised eyebrows when he was recently asked for a potential striving for a third UFC title on 170 pounds. Topuria repeatedly plagued on good weight in his career at a certain moment, but Topuria promised the UFC matchmakers of UFC 317 that he would not immediately move to another division.
But that did not stop one of the biggest names of the Welterweight Division to express the willingness to fight Topuria when the time is ripe.
During a recent segment on his YouTube channel, Belal Muhammad responded to Topuria who might have raised a different division for the chance to become a threefold champion.
“Is Topuria underestimated or overestimated? I think he rated well,” Muhammad began.
“Can Topuria take over at 170? He showed that his strength translated, went up and he still had the power in his hands. I know that Oliveira is not the perfect test instrument at 155, since he is fallen by Gaethje, Chandler, Poirier, he was still injured, but he has always been injured.
“At 170 I think the size would certainly matter. On 155 and 170 it is a big difference, especially for a man who comes from 145. But man, I would welcome him to come to 170, come up! Let's do it!”
Muhammad has not fought since the losing of the UFC -Welterweight title to Jack della Maddalena on UFC 315. Muhammad has called for a confrontation with Kamaru Usman in recent weeks for a potentially number 1 contender fight.
The UFC has never had a three-division champion, male or female, in the illustrious career of the promotion. If Topuria wants to divorce itself in the UFC Geiten discussion, a switch to Welterweight could rather rather than come later.
Ilia Topuria concentrated on sinking for years of feud with Star Lightweight candidate
In the meantime, Topuria is aimed at his first lightweight title defense, which could come across a heated rival. Topuria and Paddy Pimblett had a heated faceoff after UFC 317 after years of brewing bad blood between the two stars.
Pimblett is linked to a collision with Justin Gaethje on UFC 319, although he recently rejected the rumors expressed by UFC Middleweight Champion Dric Du Plessis. Pimblett has not fought anymore since the completion of Michael Chandler on UFC 314 earlier this year.
Topuria has many options for his next fight after reaching UFC Superstardom at UFC 317. If he makes the switch to 170 pounds, don't be surprised if Mohammed is his first opponent.