Ilia Topuria has stated that if he moves up to lightweight to fight Islam Makhachev, he will not be stripped of his featherweight title. Topuria clarified that his plan would be to continue defending the 145-pound belt even while competing at 155 pounds. This arrangement would allow him to pursue a potential super-fight with Makhachev while maintaining his featherweight championship. Whether the UFC would actually permit such an arrangement remains to be confirmed by the promotion. Topuria also expressed disappointment in Paddy Pimblett's recent performance, saying he knew Pimblett was a poor fighter but didn't realize how poor.
Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has declared that a move to lightweight to face Islam Makhachev would not cost him his 145-pound title, insisting he intends to keep defending the featherweight belt even if he competes at 155 pounds.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," is currently ranked number one pound-for-pound in the sport and carries a 17-1-0 record. The 29-year-old Spaniard trains out of Climent Club and has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the game, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute and recording nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes. He made clear that any lightweight venture would be an addition to his featherweight obligations, not a replacement for them.
Standing across a hypothetical cage from Topuria would be Islam Makhachev, the reigning champion who, according to the verified data, is currently listed as champion at welterweight. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw out of Eagles MMA holds a 28-1-0 record and is ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound list alongside Topuria. Makhachev is a technically precise fighter, landing strikes at 58 percent accuracy and averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most well-rounded champions in the sport.
Topuria also took aim at Paddy Pimblett during the same interview, saying he already believed Pimblett was a limited fighter but was surprised by just how poor the Englishman's recent showing was. Pimblett, 31, holds a 23-4-0 record and is currently ranked sixth in the lightweight division.
Why it matters
- Topuria is asserting he can hold two divisional commitments simultaneously, a claim the UFC has yet to officially endorse.
- A Topuria-Makhachev super-fight would pit the top two pound-for-pound fighters against each other across a weight-class boundary.
- The lightweight division picture remains unsettled, with both Makhachev's status and Topuria's potential arrival creating significant ranking implications at 155 pounds.
