Dustin Poirier says while Ilia Topuria could knock out every fighter in the world, from featherweight to welterweight, one man could put a spanner in the works.
Since his arrival in the UFC, the Spanish-Georgian has looked nothing short of sensational, rendering unconscious almost every opponent who’s dared set foot in the cage with him.
Most recently, the warrior has brutalized both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway to prove himself as one of the greatest 145-pounders in the history of the sport.
Now, he’s targeting titles in multiple weight classes, but one legend could stop him in his tracks.
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Dustin Poirier thinks Islam Makhachev could beat Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria is quickly cementing his status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in all of MMA, with the 28-year-old potentially capable of jumping through the weight classes.
Therefore, while Volkanovski is telling Topuria to stop wasting time and sign on the dotted line, the power puncher can’t resist flirting with the idea of becoming a three-division champion.
With Earth-shattering power, Dustin Poirier believes the man who rules over his old division is capable of obliterating any featherweight, lightweight, or even welterweight he faces inside the octagon.
However, while he’d favor him against almost anybody, ‘The Diamond’ fears Islam Makhachev might be a bridge too far for ‘El Matador’.
In an interview with The Schmo, he said: “There’s still guys at 145 pounds for Topuria to fight. I’ve never seen Topuria in person, but if he can make 145 [he should stay there]. Islam is a big guy. I think he’s going to be a lot bigger than Topuria.
“But, that being said, Topuria is an assassin. I believe he could knock out anybody from 145 pounds to 170 pounds.”
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Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski come face-to-face at UFC 312 weigh-ins
While Topuria is dreaming of capturing more glory, Volkanovski hasn’t given up hope of gaining his revenge.
The first time the pair fought, it was the younger man who walked away with a devastating knockout victory.
However, the Aussie believes he has the minerals to turn the tables, with the pair seemingly moving closer to a rematch.
Therefore, after the legends met in person at the UFC 312 weigh-ins earlier today, fans quickly headed to social media to watch the footage to find out what Topuria and Volkanovski said to each other.