One half of the UFC 317 main event has been criticized after outlining his plans for the future.
Ilia Topuria is confident that he will stop Charles Oliveira on June 28 to become the new UFC lightweight champion.
Though this will be his first fight since committing to 155 pounds, ‘El Matador’ seemingly isn’t set on the idea of hanging around for too long.
Topuria vacated his featherweight title to move up after just one defense, stating that he couldn’t continue to compete at 145 pounds due to the significant weight cut.
With Topuria already ruling out two top lightweights as his potential first opponents as the champion, there is another matchup that the undefeated star has his eye on, which he believes could lead to the creation of a new UFC title.
Fans call out Ilia Topuria for pitching new pound-for-pound belt for Islam Makhachev clash
Ilia Topuria received some pushback from fans on social media after he suggested that a matchup between him and Islam Makhachev could be for a new UFC title.
Aside from adding new weight divisions, like women’s flyweight or featherweight, and the creation of interim titles on occasion, the UFC doesn’t have a track record for creating new belts.
The BMF title is the clear exception to this and though the belt has led to some iconic fights and moments, its existence has always been a controversial talking point amongst fans.
In an interview with Carlos Contreras Legaspi, Topuria suggested that his potential super fight with Makhachev, which would be one of the biggest fights in the sport, could be for a new pound-for-pound belt.
Topuria currently occupies the #3-spot on the pound-for-pound list, with Makhachev sitting at the top, though ‘El Matador’ would likely jump ahead of Merab Dvalishvili (#2) with a win at UFC 317.
With fans hoping that the 28-year-old chooses to stay at lightweight rather than immediately leaving the division if he becomes champion on June 28, the reaction to his pitch wasn’t overwhelmingly positive.
‘BMF is great, but let’s not keep making new belts. Not even WWE does that (do they?) Just meet in the middle and fight at 165. Everyone knows whoever wins is the best in the world.’
‘It doesn’t even need a belt for it to sell itself. This is the best and biggest fight the UFC can offer.’
‘All this yapping just to get choked out by Charles this weekend.’
‘Dude seems obsessed with belts.’
‘Defend your title.’
‘This dude almost as lame as Jon Jones‘
‘Bro is either going down as the biggest yapper or the GOAT.’
Islam Makhachev competed in the first matchup between the top two pound-for-pound fighters
While seeing the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the sport go head-to-head isn’t something that fans are used to seeing, it wouldn’t be new for Islam Makhachev.
If he was to face Ilia Topuria in a matchup that would see him defend his position at the top of the list, Makhachev would be ticking this box for the second time.
At UFC 284, he put the lightweight title on the line against the dominant featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.
Despite the incredibly high expectations heading into the fight, it somehow exceeded them with one of the best fights of 2023, which Makhachev came out on top in via a unanimous decision.