Nathaniel Wood believes that Ilia has done enough to strengthen an inheritance in featherweight.
The 145 pound champion recently announced its decision to leave and go to the lightweight division.
'El Matador' smelled Alexander Volkanovski to win the belt at UFC 298 in February 2024.
The 28-year-old defended the title only once when he wrote history by stopping strikes on UFC 308 last October but beats two legends back-to-back enough to make Ilia Topuria the biggest featherweight of all time?
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Nathaniel Wood regards Ilia Topuria's goat references
Nathaniel Wood is currently trying to make its way through the rankings of featherweight.
'The Prospect', who has been 4-1 since he goes up from Bantamweight in July 2022, will be on Saturday evening in the first main map in the first main map in UFC London against Morgan Charrière.
Wood believes that Topuria has done more than enough to place itself in the goat conversation of 145 pounds.
Volkanovski, Holloway, Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor are the four names that are usually mentioned when fans talk about the best featherweight ever, but now a fifth hunter has entered the mix after they have taken two in a devastating way.
“I think he did enough on paper,” Wood said when he was asked if Topuria could be considered great as a featherweight during an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow.
“Volkanovski eliminated [and] Volkanovki knockout. Now, the only counter of that is that I would say that Volkanovski is on their way outside and was not in his prime. I would say that Holloway is not in its prime.
“However, Ilia Topuria watched everyone. So when he entered Bryce Mitchell, he absolutely smoked him. Of course he was caught by Jai Herbert, but it is MMA and everyone can be caught.
“I think the CV speaks for itself. I think it is also unbeaten.
“Yes, I think he has done enough.”
Nathaniel Wood Backs Ilia Topurias Lightweight Movement
Former UFC champion Welterweight Matt Serra recently called Topuria's weight change 'Premature'.
It is a common opinion of some of the fans who wanted to see him more as champions.
Wood, however, believes that Topuria's decision will improve its quality of life and also help his finances
“I think he should have done it, if I'm honest,” he added.
“I look at him and he is clearly a mega super star. You know, he has 6 million followers or something and he has Real Madrid who promotes him. Of course he is a huge name in Spain and he has a lot of money from what I have seen.
“So why not go up? Be more comfortable and you actually enjoy your life without exhausting yourself. I imagine that they will probably make the title match with him and Islam [Makhachev] Pretty fast.
“I remember that I saw something that he did not want to fight much longer than 30 years old. If that is the case, stand up, man and get these big fights. I imagine that they will do it. It will be a huge pay-per-view card and good luck for him.”
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