Joe Rogan believes now is finally the right time for the UFC to add more weight classes into the mix.
After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to become the new featherweight champion and then becoming the first fighter to finish Max Holloway at UFC 308, Ilia Topuria shot into superstardom.
And with that, the Spaniard believes he has achieved all he can at 145lbs, vacating his featherweight title and sending shockwaves throughout the sport.
Following his title vacation, Topuria has continuously chased a fight against current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.
Joe Rogan comments on Topuria’s lightweight move as he makes suggestion
Despite ‘El Matador’ being widely considered as undersized for the lightweight division, he claimed following the announcement of his move up that the featherweight weight cut was taking too much of a toll on him.
Whilst talking about Max Holloway’s UFC 300 performance against Justin Gaethje and Topuria’s impending move-up, UFC icon, Joe Rogan has suggested that now is the time for the UFC to introduce new weight classes.
“(Holloway) got pretty big when he went up to fight Gaethje, he put the weight on right, he looked fantastic, he was beating his a–,” Rogan began to explain during an episode of his Fight Companion.
“You have to wonder how much that Ilia Topuria knockout took out of Max because that was a beating. Ilia is just so f—— dangerous, he’s so technical, like, his striking, the way he’s bobbing in and moving and he’s so comfortable with his head movement.
“He’s a step ahead of everybody. I think the 145lb cut is (too much for him). Look, man, they should all stop cutting weight, that’s the reality, cutting weight is bulls—, it’s terrible for you, they need more weight classes and they need to stop cutting weight.
“They need to figure out a way to check hydration levels and put people in a weight class (they’re comfortable in),” the commentator continued.
UFC boss, Dana White has hinted at potentially adding new weight classes before, however, the promotion has never taken the step.
Joe Rogan doesn’t think Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria is happening next
During the Fight Companion episode, Rogan’s guest, Brendan Schaub mentioned the potential fight between Makhachev and Topuria.
“I don’t think that’s happening,” Rogan replied.
“I wonder what they’re gonna do with Topuria. I like Topuria vs (Charles) Oliveira. Oliveira is so tall, so dangerous everywhere, huge reach advantage. Those (lightweights) are real big, Islam’s huge,” Rogan continued.
Although Rogan is hopeful for a potential fight between Charles Oliveira and Topuria, the two have been trading barbs online and Oliveira declared he isn’t interested in a fight against Topuria.