Ilia Topuria – Page 28 – Syndication Server

Dana White announces three UFC title fights to headline three pay-per-views in early 2024

Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria, and Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera are all lined up.

According to UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag], the promotion has three pay-per-view main events lined up for the first quarter of 2024.

White on Monday posted a video on social media to announce three title fights that will headline three separate pay-per-views to open the new year: [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] will defend his middleweight title vs. [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] in January; [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] will put his featherweight title on the line against [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] in February; and bantamweight champ [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] will face [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] in March.

BREAKING…… pic.twitter.com/eW9Q23FVmI

— danawhite (@danawhite) November 6, 2023

Only Strickland vs. Du Plessis has an official date of Jan. 20 at UFC 297, with Toronto as the location, according to ESPN. White did not include specific dates or locations for Volkanovski vs. Topuria or O’Malley vs. Vera in his video announcement.

Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) getting the title shot at 185 pounds is a break for the South African as the announcement comes on the heels of Khamzat Chimaev suffering a torn hand ligament in his fight with Kamaru Usman last month at UFC 294. White said prior to UFC 294 that the Usman-Chimaev winner would be next in line to challenge Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC). Chimaev won by majority decision.

Du Plessis was set up to challenge then-middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after he finished ex-champ Rober Whittaker this past July, but he couldn’t make an eight-week turnaround because of injury. As a result, Strickland got the title shot instead at UFC 293 and dominated Adesanya for five rounds to dethrone the two-time champ.

Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) will return to featherweight after a second failed attempt at claiming the lightweight title with another loss to Islam Makhachev last month. Volkanovski took the rematch with Makhachev on less than two weeks’ notice and was knocked out with a head kick in the first round at UFC 294. His only two losses in the UFC are to Makhachev at lightweight. Volkanovski will aim to make his sixth consecutive defense of his featherweight belt when he faces undefeated Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who is coming off a five-round unanimous decision win over Josh Emmett this past June in the UFC on ABC 5 headliner.

O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) vs. Vera (23-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC) is a rematch of their August 2020 fight that “Chito” won by first-round TKO. It’s the only blemish on O’Malley’s career, which he’s always disputed as being legit because he was injured during the finishing sequence. O’Malley is looking to defend his belt for the first time after claiming it from Aljamain Sterling this past August at UFC 292. That same night, Vera defeated Pedro Munhoz by unanimous decision for his fifth victory in his past six fights.

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Alexander Volkanovski adamant about January UFC title fight vs. Ilia Topuria: ‘I don’t need a break’

Despite a crushing defeat at UFC 294, Alexander Volkanovski’s plans haven’t changed: He wants Ilia Topuria in January.

UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s plans remain the same: Fight [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] in January.

Volkanovski is adamant about a quick return to the octagon, despite getting knocked out this past Saturday in a rematch against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294. Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) had been rumored for a title defense against Topuria in January prior to taking the short-notice fight against Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC). And even after getting stopped for the first time in his UFC career in violent fashion, Volkanovski’s sights are still set on that first UFC pay-per-view of 2024.

“I talked to the UFC and I said keep me busy, and I say that because, again, I’m in my prime, I need to fight,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “A lot of people are like, ‘He needs a break and this.’ I don’t need a break. I want to get back in camp.

“I obviously talked to doctors to make sure there’s no concussion, the stitches and what not, but like I said I’m the best version of myself inside and outside the cage when I have a clear direction. And clear direction is having a fight. I think January still looks great to me. Ilia Topuria is obviously a very exciting fight, and I can shift all of my attention to that. You’re going to see a better version of myself in January, I promise you that. I cannot wait for it. Again, I’m all good, and thank you all for the support.”

Volkanovski had gone up to lightweight hoping to capture a second UFC title. Prior to that, he had fought in July when he defended his belt against dangerous striker Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290. He won that fight by TKO.

Volkanovski had arm surgery shortly after the fight in August and took the rematch with Makhachev on less than two weeks’ notice. Despite the unfavorable result, the 35-year-old doesn’t regret his decision to take the short-notice bout at UFC 294.

“I still stand by that decision because I believe in myself all the time, and I think people should challenge themselves,” Volkanovski said. “I’ve been a big advocate for people to challenge themselves and put themselves in this position. High risk, high reward, I’m a big believer in that.

“I was chasing greatness. I think I’m a little disappointed that I wasn’t the professional and disciplined person that I was the last few months that I usually am. So the timing of this fight coming while I wasn’t in the gym as much as I’d like to be. I wasn’t getting the rounds I usually am, and that’s what you’ve seen.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

‘EA UFC 5’ rating release for best featherweights: Does anyone come close to Alexander Volkanovski?

Check out the game ratings for the top five featherweight in “EA UFC 5,” with Alexander Volkanovski being the only five-star character.

With the release of the “EA UFC 5” video game rapidly approaching, fans are wondering who the top-rated characters in each weight class will be.

MMA Junkie will have the answer to some of those unknowns, as ratings are starting to be unveiled ahead of the Oct. 27 launch (with access on Oct. 24 with purchase of the Deluxe Edition) for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.

The countdown continues with the featherweight division, which is ruled by arguably the best pound-for-pound fights in the sport in [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag], but has a plethora of big names from past and present.

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Check below for a countdown of the top five rated 145-pound fighters from “EA UFC 5,” who have their striking, grappling and health come together under a five-star system to create an overall rating out of five.

Henry Cejudo can see Ilia Topuria dominating Alexander Volkanovski, says UFC champ ‘plays with fire’

Henry Cejudo thinks not only can Ilia Topuria beat UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski, but he can make it look easy.

[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] thinks not only can [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] beat UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag], but he can make it look easy.

Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is expected to defend his title against unbeaten Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) next. Volkanovski has defended his belt five times and was once the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. But if Topuria can fend off Volkanovski’s leg kicks and mix in his grappling, Cejudo sees him becoming champion.

“I am going for Ilia Topuria, but it’s hard to go against a guy who is very well rounded, who has fought that level of competition that Alexander Volkanovski has,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel.

“There’s one thing I would say that would make me bet the house on a guy like Ilia Topuria because I am going for him, if he could protect his leg kicks, and if he can bring back some of that Georgian wrestling into this fight, I could see Ilia Topuria not only just beating him but actually dominating in this fight.”

Cejudo praised Volkanovski for his ability to game plan and his well rounded skillset, but he thinks he takes too many risks, which will eventually cost him.

“He does put himself in these bad positions,” Cejudo said. “We talk about that fight with (Brian) Ortega. He literally put himself in that guillotine choke, and he decided to go back in there and then he did it again. This guy is willing to play with fire, and there’s going to come a time where he’s eventually going to get burned.

“Or I go back to him being put in the same position against Islam Makhachev, when Islam took his back and literally he couldn’t get out. That was round after round. I’m just letting you know that he likes kind of playing with fire. So, I feel like when Alexander does maybe take an L, it might be just because of submission or potentially a knockout.”

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Bryce Mitchell praises Ilia Topuria but gives UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski ‘slight edge’

Bryce Mitchell rates Ilia Topuria highly but explains why he’s leaning toward UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski to beat him.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] rates [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] highly but is leaning toward [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] to beat him.

Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is expected to be featherweight champion Volkanovski’s (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) next title challenger. The unbeaten top contender handed Mitchell his first-career loss when he ran through him with a second-round submission at UFC 282.

Although Mitchell (15-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) said he was far from 100 percent against Topuria, he shared some praise toward his former foe. However, he doesn’t see him dethroning Volkanovski, who has notched five title defenses during his reign.

“It’s going to be a great fight,” Mitchell told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 228 media day. “There’s no doubt that dude (Topuria) is going to put on a great performance against whoever you put him with. I think Volkanovski has a little bit of an edge with the experience of the five rounds, and he’s a little bit more well rounded.

“That being said, I don’t think it’s even going to the ground. They’re just going to stand and bang, and I think it’s going to be an awesome show. I would give Volkanovski a slight edge because of where he’s at in his career, but I love that matchup.”

Mitchell will look to rebound from his loss to Topuria when he meets Dan Ige (17-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 228 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 228.

Alexander Volkanovski wants Islam Makhachev rematch at UFC 300: ‘That’s one of the bigger fights you can make’

Alexander Volkanovski thinks an Islam Makhachev rematch would be perfect for the UFC’s milestone event early next year.

SYDNEY – [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] thinks an [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] rematch would be perfect for UFC 300.

Featherweight champion Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) has mapped out a two-fight plan, which starts with a title defense against unbeaten contender [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], followed by a rematch with lightweight champion Makhachev.

Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) defends his belt when he runs things back with Charles Oliveira in the UFC 294 main event on Oct. 21 in Abu Dhabi.

“You got the Ilia fight that’s always going to be there,” Volkanovski said backstage during UFC 293. “You got that rematch that I want (vs. Makhachev). I want to be active. Obviously, Islam and Charles (Oliveira) are going at it soon, so I don’t want to be waiting around.

“So, I’ll do early next year, I think. I wanted this year, but I think the schedule is just not going to be able to fit me in. I think there’s a few champions that need to be fighting, which is fair, but I would’ve been happy to get one in this year.”

Volkanovski pushed Makhachev to the brink in their title fight at UFC 284 in February but ultimately lost by decision. If both Volkanovski and Makhachev can successfully defend their titles, “The Great” thinks it will perfectly set the scene up for a rematch on the biggest stage at UFC 300.

“I think that makes a lot of sense,” Volkanovski said. “Yeah, for sure. I think that would be great, especially with me getting my hand raised on that one for UFC 300 would be perfect, but again, we will see what we can do. But I think that’s one of the bigger fights that you can make. I truly do believe that. A lot of people want to see that again. It was very, very competitive, and I guarantee you I get it done next time.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Video: Is Ilia Topuria the clear-cut next best option for UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski?

Had Aljamain Sterling beaten Sean O’Malley earlier this month, the options for Alexander Volkanovski might have looked a lot different.

Had Aljamain Sterling beaten Sean O’Malley earlier this month, the options for [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] might have looked a lot different.

A win for Sterling may have had him ready to leave the bantamweight division for a move to featherweight – and historically, the UFC loves those champ-vs.-champ matchups, so Volkanovski may have been set to put his featherweight title on the line against Sterling.

Sterling still might move up to featherweight after his loss to O’Malley, but he no longer would be an automatic contender for a fight with the 145-pound champ. Instead, Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) still likely is looking at either a fight with unbeaten top contender [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who hasn’t been shy with his thoughts about the Australian, or a rematch with lightweight titleholder [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC), who handed Volkanovski his only octagon loss at UFC 284 in February.

Volkanovski beat interim champ Yair Rodriguez to unify the featherweight belts in July. Topuria is coming off a dominant win over Josh Emmett. But Makhachev’s win over Volkanovski in February was close enough that there’s still an argument to be made for a rematch, even if it keeps the featherweight title on hold. At one point, Volkanovski seemed to be leaning toward Makhachev. But what’s the latest, and what makes most sense?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura break all that down with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia. Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s full episode below.

Alexander Volkanovski considered Aljamain Sterling over Ilia Topuria but ‘that’s not happening’ after UFC 292 loss

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski no longer sees Aljamain Sterling as a potential challenger.

Featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] no longer sees [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] as a potential challenger.

Sterling (23-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) was planning on moving up a division after attempting to defend his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley, but those plans were spoiled when he was TKO’d in Round 2 in this past Saturday’s UFC 292 headliner at TD Garden in Boston.

Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) called Sterling class for saying that if O’Malley was able to take him out, he can only imagine what Volkanovski would do. Sterling also appeared to have a change in plans, and would like to rematch O’Malley.

“(I’ve) got to feel for Aljo, man,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “I mean, what does he want to do? He’s definitely going to want that rematch because it’s a big fight.”

Volkanovski doesn’t see a fight with Sterling happening anymore. Waiting in the wings is top contender [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], who Volkanovski says could have been leapfrogged by Sterling had he beat O’Malley.

“That’s not happening,” Volkanovski said of fighting Sterling. “You never know. If he had a big win, he could have took Ilia’s spot.”

Volkanovski, who’s coming off a title defense against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July, had options. He was eyeing a rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev before he was booked in a rematch vs. Charles Oliveira, and was willing to entertain Sterling’s callout if he beat O’Malley.

But with the way things played out, Volkanovski is zeroing in on Topuria before the end of the year – even though the unbeaten rising star has been uncharacteristically quiet as of late.

“What’s next for me? Aljo, if he was to win in wild fashion and called his shot, he could have stepped in front of Ilia,” Volkanovski said. “Ilia’s been pretty quiet. I thought he would be chirping, wanting to make sure he gets that fight. But I want to fight as soon as possible. Obviously my elbow (isn’t 100 percent), but I’m able to do a fair bit. I’m not punching with it yet, but I will be. I’m staying fit, doing strength, doing everything I need to.

“I want to be back in there before the end of the year. Islam’s fighting. I want that rematch, but he’s fighting in October, so I want to fight before then. I don’t want to fight early next year. If I was going to wait that long, it might as well be Islam, but I don’t want to wait that long. So Ilia, keep running your mouth because I like it. (It) revs me up – makes me want to punch you in the face even more.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.

Paddy Pimblett would love to coach ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ with Ilia Topuria: ‘That would be hilarious’

Paddy Pimblett wants to spend eight weeks with Ilia Topuria to film “The Ultimate Fighter.”

LONDON – [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] wants to spend eight weeks with [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] to film “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Pimblett and Topuria have traded barbs in the past and got into a hotel altercation last July in London. They also went back-and-forth during the UFC 282 press conference. The pair has shared two cards, but never has been matched up together.

When asked what could be next for him, Pimblett (20-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC) said he’d fancy coaching the next season of “TUF” opposite side Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

“I’m just waiting to see when I come back,” Pimblett said at the Q&A hosted on Friday, part of the UFC Fight Night 224 fight week. “Obviously, (Matt) Frevola is a nice one. He called me out. But I think about 12 people have called me out in the post-fight interview, to be honest. We’ll see what happens in the future. I’d love to do a season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ with Ilia Topuria. I reckon that would be hilarious.”

Pimblett thinks he would get a real kick out of Topuria doing the show.

“That would be funny, that, wouldn’t it?” Pimblett said. “I’d get under some people’s skins, you know what I mean?”

Pimblett and Topuria are currently on different trajectories, with Topuria emerging as a featherweight contender after a dominate performance against Josh Emmett. Rising lightweight Pimblett remained unbeaten in the octagon when he edged out Jared Gordon this past December at UFC 282.

Pimblett was asked by a fan if he was afraid of Topuria, but the question was relayed to him by John Gooden as Topuria having the performance of the year against Emmett, which Pimblett laughed it off.

“Performance of the Year? He couldn’t finish someone who’s going to retire soon,” Pimblett said. “You’re messing, aren’t you? Josh Emmett is like 39, isn’t he? If you think that was a great performance, then yeah – but I could finish Josh Emmett in my sleep.”

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