UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has doubled down on his BMF title demands.
Topuria’s knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski catapulted him to the very top of the sport, quickly gaining mass media attention in his home country of Spain. A rematch with Volkanovski looked to be the best option for Topuria’s first title defence.
However, after former featherweight champion Max Holloway added to his win streak by knocking out Justin Gaethje, he has effectively jumped the queue.
Ilia Topuria continues war of words with Max Holloway
Since Holloway’s win over Gaethje, he and Topuria have started exchanging heated words over social media and in interviews. Topuria had been adamant that Holloway should put his newly won BMF title on the line should the pair meet.
In an interview with El Podcast de Webpositer, Topuria doubled down on his demands and believes it is only fair that the two put both their respective title up for grabs.
“Right now its like it doesn’t make sense to him because he knows that I’m going to beat him up, he knows it deep down. If you are the BMF champion you have the title shot, to fight for the title what are you going to do? Are you going to fight or not.
“He says sign the contract, this, that… Where are you? Put the belt on the line.”
“I said how I’m not going to fight him if he doesn’t put the BMF belt into play and he was like ‘that’s not the way a real BMF claims the title’. You intend for me to put this belt on the table, and you don’t want to put what is yours, that is, if you lose you want to continue being the BMF, how does that work? It makes no sense if it is not played.”
If Topuria cannot come to terms over a Holloway fight, he does have other options outside of a rematch with Volkanovski.
Brian Ortega has also staked his claim, and Topuria seems to favour the latter option.
“The only thing that makes it relevant would be that I would give Volkanovski the opportunity for a rematch or to fight with Brian Ortega, who was much closer to finishing Volkanvoski in one fight that Holloway was in four,” said Topuria.
“Of course, I would like it (Topuria’s first title defence) if were against him (Ortega).”
When will Ilia Topuria return?
The reigning 145lb champion appears to have no injury, hitting his competitive prime fans will want to see him back as soon as possible.
Thankfully you shouldn’t have to wait too long, in an interview with Ariel Helwani earlier this month, Topuria revealed he will be “ready to fight in August, September, or October”.