Ilia Topuria could not be happier for Alexander Volkanovski after his UFC title win.
Alexander Volkanovski had hoped that it would be his old rival Ilia Topuria that he would again fight for the featherweight title, but not everything goes according to plan.
After eliminating both Volkanovski and Max Holloway last year, Topuria rejected the title in February, allowing his former enemy and Diego Lopes to fight for the empty belt last weekend in the UFC 314 main event.
Volkanovski bounced back from two ko losses and a dismissal of a year with a stellar performance against Lopes, so that the title was recovered by a unanimous decision.
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Ilia Topuria praises Alexander Volkanovski Na UFC 314
'Alexander the Great' is now 18-1 as a featherweight with his only loss that comes to Topuria.
“He is so great,” Topuria said about his former enemy Volkanovski.
“I was so happy for him this Saturday because he really deserves to get that title back.”
Volkanovski has 7 title fights and 5 title defenses and would probably have had more if he had not challenged Islam Makhakev twice for the lightweight title in 2023.
With a record of 27-4, the Australian fought against every defensive champion featherweight in UFC history.
Ilia Topuria asked if the title profit of Alexander Volkanovski “disturbs him”
Joe Rogan no longer the UFC -Fedweight Champion last Saturday night, early to Topuria:
“Is it bothering you to see someone win your title?”
“No,” Topuria replied.
“Not at all. I'm good. Happy for him,” said Topuria about Volkanovski.
In contrast to his Irish predecessor Conor McGregor, who left the division after he had eliminated the then champion Jose Aldo, Ilia Topuria defended the featherweight title once against Max Holloway on UFC 308 in October.
“I won. I defended,” Topuria continued.
“At the moment I have a very different challenge for me.
“I wish him nothing but the best and for everyone, I always wish the best victories,” said Topuria.
Ilia Topuria has set its sights on the lightweight belt of champion Islam Makhachev, who for the time being does not want to fight 155 pounds on 155 pounds.