Ilia Topuria will have to go through at least one lightweight competition before he gets a title shot if Khabib Nurmagomedov has something to do with it.
After an extremely dominant run at featherweight in which he saw both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway back-to-back, Ilia Topuria has decided to take on new challenges.
Earlier this week, UFC Boss, Dana White announced that Topuria will leave his title and will permanently go to 155 pounds, because the Spaniard believes that he has done everything he can do in featherweight and cannot continue to cut the weight.
Although this will mark the permanent switch from the 28-year-old to lightweight, he once previously fought at 155 pounds during his UFC official period and Topuria narrowly narrowly the defeat before he scored a big KO.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Khabib Nurmagomedov is of the opinion that Topuria must first fight a lightweight competition
Initially, the plan for 'El Matador' was to rematch Volkanovski at UFC 314 in Miami, but Volkanovski will now fight against Diego Lopes after the Topuria title holiday.
The Spaniard has constantly suggested a move to lightweight during its 145 pound title line and it has led to an online feud between Topuria and Makhachev, because the Russian thinks he does not deserve an immediate title shot.
Makhachev is not the only one who thinks that Topuria is unmerited about an immediate lightweight title shot like his head coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov has also explained what he thinks Topuria should do before he fights the pound-for-pound number one, Makhachev.
“Without fighting on 155 pounds, no (I don't think Topuria deserves a title shot),” said Khabib Pound 4 pound podcast.
“Because Islam has already given a chance and people have been talking badly about the fact that he fought against Volkanovski twice, but the UFC has driven that fight and this fight was good, but why should Islam give three times a chance for the 145 pound champion?
“It is not fair for contenders of 155 pounds, but when he goes up and beats someone like Charles Oliveira, of course. And I think he can beat him, “Nurmagomedov continued.
Will Topuria get an immediate lightweight title shot?
Although it would be a shame for the title of Makhachev to be plagued by the fact that he has only defended his belt against current or former featherweight hunters, it is probably the fight that makes sense.
The Russian was planned to defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan on UFC 311, but after the Armenian had withdrawn from the fight a day earlier, Dana White revealed that Tsarukyan would not get a different title shot.
And that is why there are no lightweight contenders outside 'Ahalkalakets' that make sense to Makhachev, which means that Topuria has a good chance of getting an immediate chance of the title.
Renowned reporter, Ariel Helwani, reported earlier this week that the plan is that Makhachev and Topuria are fighting at the International Fight Week, which is planned for 28 June and is supplied by UFC 317.
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