Half of the Main Event of UFC 317 was criticized after sketching his plans for the future.
Ilia Topuria is convinced that he will stop Charles Oliveira on 28 June to become the new UFC light weight champion.
Although this will be his first fight since he was connected in 155 pounds, 'El Matador' is apparently not the idea of hanging around for too long.
Topuria left his featherweight title to go up after just one defense and stated that he could not continue to compete with £ 145 because of the considerable weight reduction.
With Topuria who already excludes two top light weights as his potential first opponents such as the champion, there is still a matchup that has an eye on the unbeaten star that he thinks could lead to creating a new UFC title.
Fans exclaim Ilia Topuria to throw a new pound-for-pound belt for Islam Makhachev Clash
Ilia Topuria received some pushback from fans on social media after he suggested that a matchup between him and Islam Makhachev could be for a new UFC title.
Apart from adding new weight distributions, such as flying weight or feather weight for women, and occasionally making interim titles, the UFC does not have a track record for making new belts.
The BMF title is the clear exception and although the belt has led to some iconic fights and moments, its existence has always been a controversial conversation point among fans.
In an interview with Carlos Contreras Legaspi, Topuria suggested that his potential super fight with Makhachev, one of the biggest fights in sport, could be for a new pound-for-pound belt.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Topuria currently occupies the #3-spot on the pound-for-pound list, where Makhachev is at the top, although 'El Matador' would probably jump for Merab Dvalishvili ( #2) with a victory over UFC 317.
With fans who hope that the 28-year-old chooses to stay at lightweight instead of immediately leaving the division when he becomes champion on 28 June, the reaction to his pitch was not overwhelmingly positive.
'BMF is great, but let's not keep making new belts. Even WWE does not (right?) Meet each other in the middle and fights at 165. Everyone knows who wins the best in the world. '
'It doesn't even need a belt to sell itself. This is the best and biggest fight that the UFC can offer. '
“This all to let Charles suffocate this weekend.”
“Guy seems obsessed with belts.”
“Defend your title.”
'This guy almost as lame as Jon Jones'
“Bro goes down like the biggest Yapper or the goat.”
Ilia Topuria says that a fight against Islam Makhachev would then be the 'perfect scenario' for a 'pound-for-pound belt' 👀🔥
“If he becomes the good weight champion and I win the lightweight title, why not make a pound-for-pound belt? For me it is the perfect scenario.”
(via… pic.twitter.com/CQ4NS1P0TE
– Championship Rounds (@champrds) 25 June 2025
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Islam Makhachev participated in the first matchup between the top two pound-for-pound hunters
Although seeing the upper two pound-for-pound hunters in the sport is going to go the head-to-head, it is not something that fans are used to seeing, it would not be new to Islam Makhakev.
If he would record Ilia Topuria in a matchup that would see him defend his position at the top of the list, Makhachev would tick this course for the second time.
At UFC 284 he put the lightweight title on the line against the dominant featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.
Despite the incredibly high expectations that were on their way in the fight, it somehow exceeded them with one of the best fights of 2023, which Makhakev came on top of a unanimous decision.