Ilia Topuria won’t be handing out title shots with a win at UFC 317.
The undefeated former featherweight champion is on the cusp of history this weekend as he attempts to become one of the few fighters in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes.
Fresh off knockouts over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Spain’s Ilia Topuria will go for vacant gold against former lightweight king Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 on Saturday.
Topuria is confident he’ll take out Oliveira any way he wants, vowing to make his chin ‘explode’ in his move up to the lightweight division.
There are many intriguing fights for Topuria in the lightweight division after Oliveira, none of which interest him at this time.
Ilia Topuria says Arman Tsarukyan needs to fight again for UFC title
Weighing in as the official back-up for the UFC 317 headliner is the #1 lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Tsarukyan is 9-1 in his last 10 fights and has wins over Oliveira and Beneil Dariush.
The 28-year-old was scheduled to rematch Islam Makhachev for the undisputed title at UFC 311 in January, however a back injury forced Tsarukyan out of the matchup right before fight night.
With a win at UFC 317, Topuria was asked if Tsarukyan is next in line for the lightweight title.
“I wouldn’t give him the chance immediately,” Topuria said of Tsarukyan in an interview with New York Post Sports.
“He needs to win one more fight,” Topuria explained.
“He had the opportunity to fight for the title. He pulled out. I don’t know for what reasons, but he pulled out.
“So he needs to win his shot again against, I don’t know—there’s Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett, many guys in the division that also deserve the shot. So, they need to fight between each other.”
Ilia Topuria won’t call out rival Paddy Pimblett after UFC 317
Another fighter Topuria has been tied to ahead of this fight is Paddy Pimblett.
The #8-ranked Pimblett inserted himself into the title picture with a dominant win over former Bellator champion Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April.
Pimblett would be one of the biggest fights possible for Topuria at lightweight as the two have history with previous altercations.
Even so, Topuria says Pimblett won’t be given an immediate title shot after UFC 317.
“No, that’s not gonna happen,” Topuria said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“He’s one fight away for the title shot,” Topuria said of Pimblett.
“So he needs that [win] because it’s gonna be even better for our fight.
“If he gets one more win, we’re gonna have, I think, the biggest fight in the UFC right now at the moment.
“Him vs. Justin Gaethje because I think he’s gonna beat him easily,” Topuria said of Pimblett’s chances against Gaethje.