‘That’s a crazy shout’…Former UFC champion reacts to Ilia Topuria’s grand career plan after beating Charles Oliveira

Former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is looking to make history.

Topuria has already achieved plenty on MMA’s biggest stage. After an unbeaten start to UFC life, 2024 saw the Georgian-Spaniard win and defend the 145-pound title.

But while Topuria’s knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway looked set to mark the start of a long divisional rule, that won’t be the case.

Instead, a new chapter in the 28-year-old’s career begins when Topuria fights Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt at UFC 317 on June 28.

And when it comes to winning gold, ‘El Matador’ doesn’t plan on stopping there.

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Michael Bisping expects Ilia Topuria to beat Charles Oliveira before targeting third UFC title

The UFC has seen a number of two-division champions crowned, but no fighter in history has yet won titles in three separate weight classes.

In the past, the likes of Conor McGregor, Henry Cejudo, and Alex Pereira have discussed the possibility of becoming the first. Now, it’s the turn of Topuria to ponder the feat.

At the WOW 19 event in Alicante on May 17, the UFC star suggested that another move up in weight to pursue the welterweight belt could be in his future.

Former UFC champion Michael Bisping, for one, wouldn’t count Topuria out.

“Alright, so Ilia Topuria could become the first-ever UFC three-weight champion,” Bisping said in a YouTube video. “That’s a bold shout, and that’s a crazy shout. There’s a lot of stuff that needs to happen before this falls into place and becomes a reality, but it just might happen.

“I would say there’s a very good chance of that [Topuria beating Oliveira] happening. … Now [after UFC 317] he’s the lightweight champion of the world, he’s become a two-weight champ.

“If Islam [Makhachev] beats Jack Della Maddalena…Islam vs. Topuria. These two are destined to meet,” Bisping continued. “If Islam goes up to 170 and becomes the champ, Ilia Topuria is going to say, ‘I want to go up to 170.’ … Given the star power Ilia Topuria has, there’s a really good chance the UFC makes that matchup.”

Ilia Topuria could join the likes of Conor McGregor, Alex Pereira, Jon Jones at UFC 317

Before potentially targeting three-weight glory in the UFC, Topuria must first join the exclusive club of two-division kings and queens.

To date, nine fighters have reached the top spot in two weight classes. The first was heavyweight and light heavyweight legend Randy Couture, while the most recent was GOAT contender Jon Jones.

Of those 10, four have held two belts simultaneously – Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Henry Cejudo.

Oliveira is tasked with stopping Topuria from adding his name to that list at International Fight Week in June.