Ilia Topuria has a bomb to defuse, with one of the most talented fighters in his division, willing to chase him through the weight categories until he signs on the dotted line.
The Spanish-Georgian has proven himself as the best featherweight on the planet, but there are still challengers lining up, ready to try and take his crown.
Movsar Evloev won’t stop until he gets his fight with Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria had a remarkable 2024, starting the year with an explosive knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski, and finishing it with a truly devastating finish against Max Holloway.
With that in mind, the power puncher has flirted with the idea of moving up to lightweight.
However, regardless of whether he stays at 145 pounds or makes the step up, he’ll struggle to shake off Movsar Evloev, who’s absolutely determined to face him inside the cage.
The Russian, who’s just come off a close and somewhat controversial victory over Aljamain Sterling, is willing to do whatever it takes to secure the showdown he so desperately desires.
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In an interview with MMA Fighting, he said: “Ilia has started talking that he’s moving up. I don’t know what’s going on. But for me, it doesn’t matter who my next opponent will be. If the champion moves up, he will leave the title, I will get the title, and then I will follow him. lightweight is not too far for me.”
The fighter then added: “Even if he moves up, I will take the belt first, because this is my first goal, and then I will go after him, even if he goes to middleweight. He is not a big guy. I don’t need to cut weight to beat this guy. I need his head on my list.”
Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria go head-to-head to be crowned the Bloody Elbow 2024 Fighter of the Year
While Topuria enjoyed the last twelve months immensely, he wasn’t the only mixed martial artist to excel.
Alex Pereira had a phenomenal run, rendering unconscious three opponents with brutal knockouts.
With that in mind, ‘Poatan’ and ‘El Matador’ were by far the best competitors in 2024.
But who did Bloody Elbow opt for as ‘The Fighter of the Year‘?
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