Former UFC Feedweight title holder Ilia Topuria does not support Yair Rodriguez's title shot.
Ilia Topuria remains unclear for its intended UFC light weight return to the Octagon later this year. Initially it was thought that he would be confronted with UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev for an immediate title shot. Yet the fight is becoming increasingly unlikely because of the fear of Makhachev and his team to give him the next opportunity to the belt.
Topuria chose to leave the 145 LB title of the UFC for a full-time switch to lightweight, after several debilitating cuts on the weight limit of featherweight, especially at UFC 308 for his collision with Max Holloway. But despite leaving the division, Topuria keeps the best featherweight contenders sharp, because they want to challenge the title of Alexander Volkanovski.
After Topuria's leave, the UFC Featherweight Division still has a whole series of talent at the top, including Movsar Evloev and former title challenge Yair Rodriguez. Evloev and Rodriguez are the two names that were thrown around for the next title defense of Volkanovski, but Topuria believes that Rodriguez is far behind a different title chance.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria rejects Yair Rodriguez's claim for the next title shot of featherweight
After spoiling former Bellator champion Patricio 'Pitbull's UFC debut on UFC 314, Rodriguez called for the next title shot, despite losses in two of his last three fights. Rodriguez lost to Volkanovski on UFC 290 in a dominant version by the title holder.
Topuria does not believe that Rodriguez has some merit when it comes to discussing who should be the next one for Volkanovski.
During a recent performance on the Joe Rogan experience, Topuria was asked about Yair Rodriguez and had a less than enthusiastic assessment of the former title finer.
“I don't know what to tell you about Yair Rodriguez. I am not a big fan of him,” Topuria said about Rodriguez. “He is the type of man you don't even have to get him, he himself goes to the ground. He is very spectacular as he fights, the striking, the stairs he throws and all, but I am not a big fan of him.
“I am a fan of people (Volkanovski) and Max Holloway,” Topuria continued. “In fact, they were the smartest guys I ever encountered in the Octagon. I felt they were smart. They had that fight IQ. They know how to fight.” (H/T MMA Junkie)
Rodriguez and Topuria have some history. Prior to a recent fight in UFC Mexico City, Rodriguez contempt for the then champion of the featherweight Topuria and admitted that he was not 'f-as' the Brash UFC star'.
Rodriguez's comments were in response to Topuria's disinterest to tackle some of the best featherweights in the division. Before Topuria was confronted against Holloway in his lonely featherweight title defense, he rejected the best contenders of the division, which eventually led to a switch to the lightweight division.
Top lightweight in discredit brings Ilia Topuria's opportunities versus Islam Makhachev
While Topuria had discredited Rodriguez, a top lightweight competition in doubt his chances of deporting Makhachev in his division debut. Mateusz Gamrot pointed to the small form of Topuria as an important reason why he believes that he will have trouble fighting against Makhachev if they are booked later this year.
In contrast to the statement of Topuria, UFC Lightweight than Hooker believes that Rodriguez earns the following title about Evloev after viewing his performance at UFC 314. In the meantime, Evloev has not fought anymore since the beating of Aljamain Sterling in UFC 310 in December.
Topuria could also be confronted with old rival Paddy Pimblett for his lightweight return, after the recent victory of the latter over UFC 314. Topuria and Pimblett have been on each other's nerves for years, from an altercation of 2022 in UFC London.
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