Tag: Ilia Topuria

Daniel Cormier explains how ‘mental fatigue’ is reason for Ilia Topuria’s odd callout of Charles Oliveira

Daniel Cormier theorizes that Ilia Topuria isn’t motivated to defend his UFC featherweight title and can understand why.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] theorizes that UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] is no longer motivated to defend his title.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) recently said he’s interested in moving up to lightweight for his next fight to take on top contender Charles Oliveira. Topuria also hinted that we’ve likely seen his final fight at 145 pounds.

Topuria knocked out featherweight greats Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway back to back, becoming the first to finish Holloway by strikes at UFC 308.

“When you beat the best guys, especially the two guys that ruled the division for so long, there can be a little bit of fatigue in there,” Cormier said on his “Funky and the Champ” show with Ben Askren. “It’s not like muscle fatigue; it’s mental fatigue. You have to be so up to do what he did to Max Holloway and to do what he did to Volkanovski.

“I don’t care what people tell you. The only ones that believe that he would do what he did was Ilia Topuria and his team. You can’t think that that was going to happen just being on the outside. He went out, and he knocked out Max Holloway. That doesn’t happen. You don’t knock out Max Holloway. He knocked out Volkanovski. You don’t do those things back to back.”

There are fresh matchups such as Movsar Evloev and Diego Lopes awaiting Topuria at featherweight, but Cormier explains that after “El Matador” took out the biggest names, he’ll have a hard time getting up for the rising contenders.

“Now (he) went from fighting two established veteran stars, people that sell pay-per-view, the BMF champion, to now (he’s) got to fight a guy that’s on the upswing,” Cormier said. “A guy that’s on the rise, a guy that truly is who I was only a couple fights ago.”

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Josh Emmett won’t give up on UFC title run, wants Ilia Topuria rematch ‘more than anything’

Josh Emmett wants to work his way to a position where he can run things back with Ilia Topuria.

LAS VEGAS – UFC featherweight contender [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag] hit the reset button on his career and is now ready to get going again.

After taking a year away from fighting, Emmett is ready to pick up the gloves once again and start building toward title contention. Emmett, who was last seen in action in December 2023 when he viciously knocked out Bryce Mitchell, is itching to get back in the octagon and hopes to fight again in the beginning of 2025.

“It’s a question everyone has been asking me, but over the last handful of years I have not been my best, and this year I took the whole year off to get back to 100 percent,” Emmett told MMA Junkie when asked about his inactivity. “I feel like I owe it to my family, friends and coaches. I’m 100 percent now, so I want to make a run at that title, and I’m excited to get back in there. I’m feeling great, and I can’t wait for people to see me perform in (first quarter) of next year.”

Emmett, 39, didn’t specify, but said he’d been dealing with injuries that have now been addressed. These physical issues made it hard for him to compete at his full potential.

“In the last few years, I’ve been a fraction of myself, but you get these opportunities, and you have to take them, and here we are,” Emmett said. “2025 is right around the corner and everyone will see the progression that I’ve made in this year lay off.”

There’s no particular opponent ideal for his return, but Emmett does want a fight that’s meaningful in the rankings. He’s determined to make another title run and get his rematch against now UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag].

“If it’s my choice, I’m going Ilia rematch, but it doesn’t work that way,” Emmett said. “So whoever is going to get me closer to that rematch with Topuria.”

Emmett added,

“(Topuria) is a great fighter, he’s a great champion, but I want that fight back more than anything.”

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UFC champ Ilia Topuria hints at vacating title, wants Charles Oliveira at lightweight

Ilia Topuria is ready to leave featherweight – and his belt – behind for a move to the UFC lightweight division.

Is [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] about to voluntarily give up the UFC featherweight title? It appears he’s thinking about it.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who earned his first 145-pound title defense with a knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October after claiming the belt from Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February, said he’s interested in moving up to lightweight in his next contest.

All signs pointed to Topuria next defending his belt in a rematch with Volkanovski in 2025, perhaps in Spain, but it appears “El Matador” has a different idea in mind.

“There were talks of Miami, but I’m not sure because there are still some pending conversations,” Topuria told Spanish radio outlet El Partidazo de COPE. “We need to talk about it and take a look at my future, but for me, it’s very clear how I want to do it. I’d like to move up to the next weight class, and since Islam (Makhachev) is the champion fighting in January (against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311), and he won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight against the No. 1 contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira.”

“I’d like to move up a weight class,” . “Since Islam (Makhachev) fights in January, I’d like to face the division’s top contender, Charles Oliveira.”

When pressed by the radio host as to whether the callout of Oliveira could mean he’s moving on from the featherweight division for good, which in turn would mean relinquishing the belt, Topuria nodded his head.

“Maybe there’s a change coming,” Topuria said. “Yes, very likely (you saw my last fight at featherweight).”

Whether Oliveira is interested in the matchup with Topuria remains to be seen. “Do Bronx” is coming off a unanimous decision win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309 in November, and afterward said he intends to sit cageside for Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan on Jan. 18 and challenge the winner.

Prior to his fight at UFC 309, Oliveira was asked about the possibility of Topuria moving up in weight, and cautioned him about doing so.

“Ilia is a tough fighter – someone who talks the talk and walks the walk,” Oliveira said through an interpreter at UFC 309 media day. “He’s doing things. I can see why he would want to challenge people. He would be, obviously, a tough fight.

“I think that what happens is a lot of fighters, whenever they get the belt, they have that belt wrapped around their waist, they start thinking up and down in the divisions. But I think you have to be very careful when you’re coming up to lightweight because this is tough. This is a very tough division. But at any rate, I think that he’s a very tough and very dangerous guy.”

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Islam Makhachev not interested in potential UFC title fight vs. Ilia Topuria: ‘I don’t need his name’

Islam Makhachev says he’s not interested in giving Ilia Topuria a shot at his UFC lightweight title.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] seems to be done welcoming challengers from 145 pounds.

Makhachev, UFC lightweight champion, has defended his title twice against Alexander Volkanovski, who was then champion of the featherweight division. Still reigning and 2-0 against featherweight challengers, Makhachev says he’s done with those types of matchups, which means bad news for [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag].

“No, man. I’m tired of giving chance to small guys,” Makhachev said at Friday’s UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas. “I need my second belt. It’s nothing exciting. He’s a good fighter. He’s a good skills fighter, but I don’t want to give him a chance. I need second belt. That fight for what? For me, is nothing. It’s just his name, and I don’t need his name. I need the belt.”

Since winning the UFC featherlight belt against Volkanovski earlier this year, Topuria has been campaigning for a shot a becoming a two-division UFC champion. Most recently, Topuria said he’d like to return in Spring 2025 and take on Makhachev.

Topuria is coming off an impressive KO win over former champion Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 in October. The victory marked his first title defense.

On the other hand, Makhachev is set to headline UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles. He takes on Arman Tsarykyan in a rematch that stems from a 2019 meet.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.

UFC champ Ilia Topuria wants lightweight title shot vs. Islam Makhachev

UFC star Ilia Topuria wants a shot at Islam Makhachev in a champion vs. champion fight.

It looks like UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] has lost interest in a potential rematch with [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag], and is now hoping for a champion vs. champion bout.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who was keen on fighting Volkanovski a second time following his successful title defense against Max Holloway in October, is now saying he’d like a bigger challenge for his return to the octagon.

“I’m on the verge of making some decisions, and I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” Topuria said in Spanish on El Chiriguito. “I’m closer to making a fight with (Islam) Makhachev, that’s what interest me the most.

“My ideal rival needs to have something that has me fighting for something. I need to conquer something. I need something to motivate me. Do a rematch (with Volkanovski) for what? I already beat him. ‘Oh, is that I want another chance for,’ Ok, you’re better than me. That’s it.”

Topuria would ideally like to move up to 155 pounds and take on Makhachev. However, Makhachev must first defend his title in his scheduled rematch against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles.

“Getting a second title and fighting for something that builds your legacy. That’s something I’ve set for myself,” Topuria said.

As far as a timeline, “El Matador” is hoping to get back in the cage sometime in spring.

“April or May, April or May,” Topuria said when asked about his ideal return. “It also interests me to be active at the same time, but the weight cut is very annoying, to be honest.”

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Islam Makhachev doesn’t feel great about potential Ilia Topuria fight

Islam Makhachev doesn’t see much to gain from fighting fellow UFC champion Ilia Topuria.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] doesn’t see much to gain from fighting fellow UFC champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag].

Featherweight champ Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and his head coach expressed interest in moving up a weight class to challenge lightweight champ Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) after Topuria knocked out Max Holloway at UFC 298. In a recent interview with Match TV (h/t Championship Rounds), Makhachev didn’t rule out the possibility of fighting Topuria some day but explained why it doesn’t interest him.

“We will definitely have some kind of conversation,” Makhachev said. “He constantly talks about me. He probably wants to tell me something. I don’t understand what he wants to tell me. Let’s step outside and talk. He wants to fight? We’ll fight if we need to.

“In terms of my fighting career, I’m not interested in fighting Topuria at all. He’s in a different weight class. I’ll beat him, and what will that do for me? I won’t win another belt. Everyone will once again say that I beat a featherweight. That’s it. But if people really want to see him lose, then we can do it.”

Makhachev’s first two title defenses at lightweight came against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. He then tied the record for most title defenses in lightweight history by submitting Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June.

He is expected to make his next title defense in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) Jan. 18 at UFC 311 from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., though nothing is confirmed.

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Charles Oliveira cautions UFC champion Ilia Topuria about lightweight move

Charles Oliveira praised Ilia Topuria, but says a lightweight move won’t be easy.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] praised [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], but says a lightweight move won’t be easy.

UFC featherweight champion Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who’s coming off back-to-back knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, is confident he can become the first to submit UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev.

A former lightweight champion, Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) acknowledges Topuria’s skillset, but reminds him of the shark tank in his division.

“Ilia is a tough fighter – someone who talks the talk and walks the walk,” Oliveira said through an interpreter during Wednesday’s UFC 309 media day. “He’s doing things. I can see why he would want to challenge people. He would be, obviously, a tough fight.

“I think that what happens is a lot of fighters, whenever they get the belt, they have that belt wrapped around their waist, they start thinking up and down in the divisions. But I think you have to be very careful when you’re coming up to lightweight because this is tough. This is a very tough division. But at any rate, I think that he’s a very tough and very dangerous guy.”

Oliveira runs things back with Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York. Oliveira won their first meeting by knockout to claim the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in May 2021.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Diego Lopes down for a point-and-brawl invitation from Ilia Topuria: ‘I’m not afraid of anyone’

Diego Lopes has no problem accepting a point-and-brawl invitation from UFC champ Ilia Topuria.

Fans missed out on a middle-of-the-cage shootout between [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] and Max Holloway. However, [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] promises that wouldn’t be the case if he were to get a crack at the champion.

Last month at UFC 308, Topuria pointed to the middle of the cage, inviting Holloway to brawl during their UFC featherweight championship fight in Abu Dhabi. Holloway, who’s made the point-and-brawl move notorious in the UFC, opted out from the exchange with the heavy-handed Topuria.

Unlike Holloway, Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) says that’s an invitation he’d welcome with mo problem.

“Definitely, definitely, definitely,” Lopes told MMA Junkie in Spanish when asked if he’d throw down with Topuria. “I’m telling you, I respect everyone, but I’m not afraid of anyone. If there’s anything I don’t have, it’s fear. I think I’ve shown that in all my fights. I’ve shown that I’m not afraid of anyone.

“As many times as he wants to point to the ground, I will plant my feet in the middle of the cage and throw down. It’s that easy.”

Unfortunately for Holloway, although he opted out from the brawl with Topuria, after a couple of close rounds, he was eventually was knocked out. It was Holloway’s first knockout loss in his lengthy and tested MMA career.

Although hungry to get a shot at the belt, Lopes admits it was hard to see Holloway’s legendary chin get cracked for the first time.

“I think everyone felt it,” Lopes said. “As a fan, removing myself the fighter, like a fan, I think it hurt all of us to see Max Holloway in that situation. Imagine, I think all MMA fans have been now watching Holloway for years and we’ve never seen him in a situation like this. We never imagined this would happen, and when it did, it was a big surprise.  But credit to Topuria, he did a great job. He did what he said he was going to do. He kept his promise.”

Lopes, who’s ranked No. 3 in the UFC official featherweight rankings, is riding a five-fight winning streak with his most recent victory coming by way of decision over former UFC title challenger Brian Ortega. Lopes has expressed interest speaking with MMA Junkie in being the next challenger for Topuria or a title eliminator bout against Alexander Volkanovski.

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Ilia Topuria’s coach Jorge Climent: Potential Paddy Pimblett fight would be ‘abuse’

Ilia Topuria’s coach Jorge Climent doesn’t think Paddy Pimblett has the quality to compete against the UFC featherweight champion.

What at one point seemed like a possibility, now seems like a mismatch, at least according to [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]’s coach [autotag]Jorge Climent[/autotag].

Just two years ago, there was plenty of talk of a potential fight between Topuria, who now holds the UFC featherweight title, and lightweight star [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag].

The two fighters got into a short skirmish at the host hotel for UFC Fight Night 204 in London back in March 2022, and they had a long history of social media exchanges, which were sparked by Pimblett’s comments poking fun at Russo-Georgian War.

“The truth is that at that moment there was anger because of all the history of Ilia’s family members fighting in the war, so he truly wanted to f*ck him up, but Paddy didn’t want to fight,” Climent told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I don’t know if it’s because they wanted to take care of him or the UFC wanted to protect him, but (Ilia) tried to get the fight.”

Pimblett eventually issued a public apology for making fun of the Georgia’s losing efforts in the Russo-Georgian War, and the two continued with their careers in their respective divisions.

Things between Pimblett and Topuria resurfaced a bit after Pimblett reacted to Topuria’s KO win over Max Holloway last month at UFC 308, saying he thinks he’d still beat him if the two were to fight.

“I don’t know if that kid is in condition to fight someone with a title right now,” Climent said. “Who has he beat? All his fights, they put someone alright in front of him, just so he can exist and stay relevant. He’s very mediatic because of how he talks and all that, but I don’t see him having the quality to fight Ilia, and I don’t think he deserves it.”

When asked about a potential matchup between Topuria and Pimblett, and how it could potentially go, Climent’s answer was a simple one:

“What would that be, abuse?”

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Chael Sonnen: Ilia Topuria can pass Conor McGregor as UFC’s biggest star in no time

Chael Sonnen thinks Ilia Topuria has the potential to become a bigger star than Conor McGregor.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] has the potential to become a bigger star than [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag].

After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski to claim the featherweight title, Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) became the first fighter to knock out Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in the UFC 308 main event.

Undefeated Topuria has already amassed millions of followers on social media, and had soccer superstar Sergio Ramos travel to Abu Dhabi to support him for his title fight against Holloway. His rise to stardom has the UFC eyeing a debut event in Spain in 2025.

If Topuria continues his dominance in the octagon, Sonnen says the sky is the limit for “El Matador.”

“He’s got the Prime Minister of Spain watching his fights and having people filming,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “He’s got the biggest actresses, the most successful athletes – which are football (players) in Spain – coming and watching him live.

“The guy never misses. It turns out he’s as good as he said. I mean, it’s going to be a short period – he’s not here now, but it’s a short period of time. At this trajectory, believe this or not, he’s going to pass Conor McGregor.”

Topuria and McGregor have already taken numerous shots at each other. Topuria once longed for a fight with McGregor, but has recently changed his tune, saying that “The Notorious” wouldn’t be worthy to fight him.

As it stands, it will be difficult for any fighter to outdo McGregor’s popularity, as the former UFC dual-champion is responsible for eight out of the UFC’s 10 highest-selling pay-per-views.

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