- Ilia Topuria has risen by means of the UFC ranks shortly, making his debut in October 2020.
- The Georgian-Spanish fighter received the UFC featherweight title in February 2024, after which the light-weight belt in June 2025 to develop into the tenth two-division champion.
- Topuria now desires to maneuver as much as welterweight and develop into the primary three-division champion, and you’ll find odds for the possibilities of that, alongside along with his subsequent opponent.
Ilia Topuria is a two-division UFC champion, featherweight and light-weight, however he desires extra! The Georgian-Spanish fighter is seeking to goal one other division and develop into the primary three-division champ within the promotion’s historical past.
Topuria desires to focus on the welterweight division and believes he can win the belt there as effectively.
Topuria Says Makhachev is Ducking Him, and Pimblett Is an Simple Battle
Topuria made an appearance on the TMZ Sports activities Present and made a slew of declarations in opposition to his rivals.
The Georgian-Spanish fighter was the featherweight champion, defeating Alexander Volkanovski in February 2024 to win the belt and one other legend in Max Holloway in October 2024.
Topuria then took on former light-weight champ Charles Oliveira in June 2025 for the vacant 155-pound title. Islam Makhachev held the belt for nearly three years however vacated it to maneuver as much as welterweight to tackle champion Jack Della Maddalena.
Topuria predicted a first-round stoppage of Oliveira and made it occur with a knockout at UFC 317. The 28-year-old was then joined within the cage by Paddy Pimblett, in a transfer that UFC president Dana White wasn’t happy about.
Arman Tsarukyan is the #1 contender for the light-weight title, however promoting a Topuria-Pimblett struggle can be easy for him, as they genuinely don’t like one another. Topuria stated in his interview:
“All of the followers around the globe, I believe that they need to see that struggle. And on the identical time, I’ve to be trustworthy, I believe it is one of many best fights that I might have within the light-weight division.”
As for Mahkachev, Topuria exclaimed:
“With me arising, he was like, I haven’t got to take this threat. I will transfer as much as the 170. I will attempt to get one other belt. And that is all as a result of he is aware of that I am harmful. He is aware of that I will put him to sleep. Even Khabib (Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s cousin and coach). The one purpose they do not need me to struggle in opposition to him, as a result of they know that I will beat him.”
Can Topuria Win the Welterweight Belt, and Who Will Be His Subsequent Opponent?
These are sturdy phrases from Topuria, however you’ll find props at UFC betting sites on whether or not he’ll be a three-division champion by the top of 2025. Yow will discover a “Sure” at +1400 at BetUS, whereas Bovada has odds for his subsequent opponent. Tsarukyan is the slight favourite at +160 in entrance of Pimblett at +190. Justin Gaethje is subsequent at +325, and Makhachev sits at +400.
It’s extra seemingly that Topuria and Makhachev would struggle at 155 factors, and never 170 kilos. It’s robust to go up two weight courses, not to mention three. Conor McGregor has fought at welterweight after claiming the featherweight and light-weight belts. Nonetheless, he’s 1-1 in opposition to Nate Diaz at 170 kilos, and McGregor beat an over-the-hill Donald Cerrone at that weight. He wasn’t combating for a belt.
Moreover, don’t low cost Della Maddalena in opposition to Makhachev. The Australian is a authentic welterweight who’s used to combating at that dimension. Makhachev is being touted as a substantial favourite when the 2 meet someday in 2025. Nevertheless it won’t be a stroll within the park for the Dagestani champion.
Nonetheless, that’s not going to cease Topuria from speaking. If he makes 1-2 light-weight title defenses, and Makhachev manages to win the welterweight belt, the shouts for a struggle between the 2 might be loud!
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