Ilia Topuria’s struggle to make the featherweight limit has been documented in his new film ‘Matador’.
The undefeated world champion relinquished his belt to move up to lightweight earlier this month, telling Dana White that he was finding it too hard to make the cut. Many fans have questioned the excuse, and feel he just believes there are bigger fights such as Islam Makhachev up a division.
Having won the belt from the legendary Alexander Volkanovski and defended against another all-time great in Max Holloway, Topuria’s credentials at 145lb are unquestionable. And in newly-released footage from his documentary, he appears to prove just how tough making the weight was for him.
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Ilia Topuria cried during brutal cut for Alexander Volkanovski fight
Ilia Topuria is the subject of a new documentary ‘Topuria Matador’, which has yet to set a global release date. However, footage has leaked on social media via MMA Pros Pick on Instagram showing one scene in which he struggles through the weight cut for his UFC 298 showdown with Alexander Volkanovski.
Despite having previously fought as low as bantamweight, he seemed to find it very hard to hit the championship weight of 145lb. The brief clip shows him getting to 145.4lb, which means he has to get back into the sauna tent in order to lose further weight.
His team have to remind him that he’s physically going to be okay as Topuria cuts his final piece of weight, and allow him to suck on a lollipop. “My heart is racing,” he says at one point, before being reassured by his trainers.
His brother then twice asks “what’s happening?” Before telling his brother “These are tears of happiness and gratefulness for all the hard work and God’s help.” Topuria then walks out of the room after making weight, but needs to be held up by a coach.
Ilia Topuria has now moved up in weight in pursuit of Islam Makhachev
Topuria’s days of making the brutal cut to featherweight are, however, now over as he has officially moved up to lightweight. He relinquished the 145lb belt and is allowing Volkanovski to face Diego Lopes for the vacant belt at UFC 314.
He is now pursuing Islam Makhachev, although it remains to be seen if he will have to fight one contender at lightweight first. Dana White told the media this week that Topuria “Said, ‘I’ve done everything I can do here, I’m ready to move up’ and he vacated [the belt].
“He said, ‘I shouldn’t be holding up anybody’s opportunities.’ I respect when guys do that… I think he felt he had done everything with the guys that he beat. If you look at who he beat and how he beat them, right? And I don’t think he loved making that weight anymore.”
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