Illa Topuria's coach has confirmed his switch to lightweight.
The UFC featherweight champion has established himself as one of the pound-for-pound best by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024.
'El Matador' appeared to be just getting started at 145 pounds, but he recently claimed he would vacate his title and move up to the lightweight division where he would like to take on former titleholder Charles Oliveira.
Ilia Topuria's trainer, Jorge Climent, now insists that his star pupil's time at featherweight is over.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria's coach explains the lightweight movement
Jorge Climent says Ilia Topuria's lightweight move was born out of a desire to stop cutting so much weight.
The 27-year-old has found it increasingly difficult to make £145 in recent years. So much so that he has now longed to leave the division altogether and fight 10 pounds heavier in the weight class that Islam Makhachev ruled.
“The real thing is I think he hates that weight,” Climent told Submission Radio.
“He's done it many times and every time we do it it gets harder. He doesn't want to do this anymore so he wants to move up to the next weight class because he thinks his normal weight is that weight class.
“In the beginning Ilia fought at 61kg and he is young, you know. And your body changes. When you're twenty you have one body, when you're 25 you have another body and when you're thirty you have another body. And always your muscle production is greater and your weight is difficult to reduce.
“I don't think it's something that we decided like, 'We want to fight his guy.' We decided because he wants to feel better.
“I imagine if he moves to another weight class, the belt will be vacant. I don't know what's going to happen if he doesn't want to defend it. I think he left it up to the people this way.
Who will Ilia Topuria fight next?
Climent insists Topuria vs. Oliveira is the fight to have after the Brazilian's recent victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 309.
He added: “I like the way Charles Oliveira plays this sport.
“I think he has a great future. He has tremendous punching power. But I think Ilia comes from another planet. I think Ilia has anti-jiu-jitsu and the problem with Oliveira is that he grabs a lot of hands when he hits and Ilia's big hand is very dangerous, you know.
“I think they're going to have a striking match because maybe Oliveira is going to try to grab him and get his back or something, but Ilia is going to stop him and get on his feet. When they cross, he will turn off the lights.'
If Olveira opts against the matchup, Topuria would most likely target a fight with Dustin Poirier.
“I think Dustin was talking about it. It's another big match for Ilia,” Climent continued.
“I don't know. I think the best chance is to fight the number one. Number one top position. But if this option is not there, why not? I think Ilia is willing to fight anyone who wants to fight in May.
“That will be a great match. He has very good skills and striking. He's a tough guy, but I think Ilia can attack better. I think he can wrestle better. And I know Dustin has very good jiu-jitsu. I think it's a very good match, but I think Ilia can take him down or finish him.”
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