Ilia Topuria ensured he would succeed Islam Makhachev on the lightweight throne with a violent finish at UFC 317.
After Makhachev vacated the 155-pound title, the former featherweight king headlined the International Fight week pay-per-view in competition for it.
Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira in brutal fashion to collect the crown inside the very first round, making good on yet another confident pre-fight prediction.
And Topuria’s performance appears to have convinced some that he could follow Makhachev up in weight and knock him out.
- READ MORE: UFC Hall of Famer proclaims Ilia Topuria would KO Islam Makhachev at welterweight after UFC 317
Jens Pulver backs Ilia Topuria to repeat UFC 317 KO against Islam Makhachev
During a stream on the UFC Fight Pass YouTube channel, UFC Hall of Famer Jens Pulver reacted live to UFC 317 alongside TJ De Santis and Michael Alexander.
Like most, ‘Little Evil’ reacted in shock and awe as Topuria flattened Oliveira with a nasty combination. And Pulver was so impressed that he quickly proclaimed that the Spaniard will KO all those he comes across, Makhachev included.
“I told you,” Pulver said. “He’s gonna knock them all out; that combination. Jab to the belly, boom, boom, those hooks inside, over!
“He’s gonna knock out Makhachev. I told you, he’s gonna go up to Makhachev, he’s gonna knock him out. That’s his goal.
“Dude, he didn’t just knock (Oliveira) out, he hurt him, he hurt him bad. He knocked him unconscious. … He hits too hard.”
Ilia Topuria promised not to request welterweight move after UFC 317 title win
Unfortunately for Pulver and the many others clamoring for that fight to come to fruition, it doesn’t look to be on the table for the time being.
The newly crowned champ admitted as much post-fight, with Topuria revealing his promise to the UFC not to request a welterweight move to chase down Islam Makhachev after his UFC 317 crowning.
“I’ve thought about it, but the last conversation I had with the UFC, they personally asked me the favor, ‘Don’t tell us after the fight that you want to move to the welterweight division. Make us a promise.’
“I was like, ‘Ah, I promise,’” Topuria added, while jokingly crossing his fingers.
For ‘El Matador’ to pursue a historic three-division feat in a grudge match against Makhachev, the Dagestani must first achieve multi-weight glory himself by dethroning Jack Della Maddalena later this year.