UFC champion Ilia Topuria still has some doubts.
The Topuria of Spain became the new lightweight champion in June with a wild first round knockout from Charles Oliveira on UFC 317, just as he predicted.
16-0 As a professional, the hard-handy 'Matador' drives on one of the best stripes in history and stops the will of featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, BMF champion Max Holloway and popular former champion Oliveira.
While Topuria could be on its way to the UFC Hall of Fame and all time, a former champion understands the criticism behind his recent success.
Photo by Ian Maule/Getty images
Frankie Edgar Brutile Honest on the three-fighter line of Ilia Topuria
Just like Topuria, former UFC lightweight Frankie Edgar fought in three weight classes in his career.
Topuria went from bantamweight to featherweight to lightweight, while Edgar did exactly the opposite, started his career in lightweight and ended it at Bantamweight.
The retired Edgar says that Topuria is 'not as good as' former two -division champion Conor McGregor when it comes to waste, but he is doing well with his skills.
“I think Ilia is all that everyone said he is,” said Edgar on the Champ and the Tramp Podcast.
“He clearly sells as they said. [Viewership] Songs are like Real Madrid, it's crazy …
“He realizes the hype. He says what he is going to do and go outside and do.
“But there are always the people who will say some s – and hate him, and they also have a point,” Edgar admitted.
“He beat a 36-year-old Volkanovski,” continued the legendary lightweight.
“He defeated Holloway, who came out of the way a very hard – weight because he is at 155, went back to 145 … and people came from the main kicks, right?”
Volkanovski faced Topuria on UFC 298, four months after he was eliminated in the opening round on UFC 294 by the Islam Makhakev.
“And he just fought against a 35, almost 36-year-old Oliveira. You know the statistics, well, with the 35-year-old and [over curse]”Edgar said.
The 35-and-over curse is based on statistics in which most hunters aged 35 or older in title fights, especially in the lighter weight classes.
Ilia Topuria under fire because he doesn't want to fight against no. 1 Competent
Topuria has received more and more criticism in the weeks after winning the lightweight belt.
Topuria made the headlines when he said he would rather leave the title than fight #1 lightweight competition Arman Tsarukyan, who, according to many, deserves a title option. Tsarukyan has been 9-1 since he lost to Islam Makhachev in his UFC debut in 2019.
Paul Felder and Michael Bisping went to the champion for refusing the #1 candidate, with Bisping asked whether Topuria was 'a Jon Jones'.
Tsarukyan has also accused Topuria of 'diving' him, despite the fact that he was excluded from a title fight by UFC boss Dana White twice in front of his UFC 311 -Vecht trek in January.
Former champion Sean O'Malley understands why Topuria does not want to fight against Tsarukyan and claims that there are three larger fights for the Spaniard.
UFC analyst Chael Sonnen recently claimed that UFC's plan is to be Topuria vs. Tsarukyan to make for the belt.