In anticipation of his UFC 317 title fight against Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria has made a fairly daring claim about potentially lightweight champion.
Earlier this week, UFC boss Dana White made a huge shock from that Islam Makhachev left its UFC light weight title when pursuing a welterweight fight against Jack della Maddalena.
And with that it was also announced that Ilia Topuria is taking on Charles Oliveira for the empty title in the UFC 317 Main Event on International Fight Week.
'Do Bronx' Oliveira could make UFC history if he successfully records the title and possibly becomes the very first lightweight ever to win the title twice.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria tells Islam Makhachev to 'wait in line'
Although the UFC fans miss the super fight between 'El Matador' and Islam Makhachev, there is still potential that it happens somewhere along the line.
The two went back and forth with each other online and Topuria recently called Makhachev a 'coward' for running a fight against him.
And with Topuria a little more than a month away from fighting for the title, the Spaniard has claimed that if he becomes the UFC light weight champion, he will not give Makhakev an immediate title shot if the Russian decision will return to weight.
“You know, from the start he wanted to give the impression that he had a kind of decision,” Topuria began to explain during a press conference in Spain.
“He also said in a week ago:” My move to Welterweight will not matter, because I don't intend to leave my title, “and I had said earlier that I did not go to lightweight to ask anything and that I was in charge.
“So, who got their way, who did what they said? As always, he or me? So after this fight, if I have the belt, he can stand in line, what is long, and someone's eyes will shine,” Topuria continued.
Topuria on a potential fight against Makhachev: “He said he would not leave his title and I said he was ruling the division and who got away? I. After this fight, when I have the belt, he can stand in line, what a long one's eyes will shine” pic.twitter.com/rppch3udjz
– Álvaro Colmenero (@kolmeneromma) 18 May 2025
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Ilia Topuria on a potentially future fight against Paddy Pimblett
Paddy Pimblett is a lightweight competition who is probably hopeful that Topuria wins the title. The rising Brit stands on a seven combat switch with his last brutal against Michael Chandler on UFC 314.
'The Baddy' and Topuria have a constant feud that dates from 2022 when they collided at the UFC Fighter Hotel in London, and they have since continued to go online.
With Pimblett who approaches a title shot, when 'El Matador' becomes champion, it would bring the Brit to an excellent position to fight it because of their feud.
“He knows where the money is now, he has to pay for the parties he throws for himself,” Topuria commented on a potential fight against Pimblett.