Ilia Topuria Faces Criticism from UFC Stars
The criticism from UFC stars has sparked a debate about Topuria's decision to move up to the lightweight division, with many questioning his ability to compete against top fighters. The move has also raised concerns about the trend of fighters holding two belts simultaneously and the lack of defenses in their respective divisions.
UFC legend Matt Brown has advised lightweight champion Islam Makhachev to avoid fighting Ilia Topuria, citing that a win over the Spanish-Georgian fighter would not earn him any credit. Brown's comments come as Topuria has recently vacated the featherweight title to move up to the lightweight division.
Brown's concerns about Topuria's size in the lightweight division have sparked a debate about the fighter's decision to move up. Topuria's move has also drawn criticism from UK-based UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett, who believes that Topuria is running from tough challenges at featherweight. Pimblett, who has a history of conflict with Topuria, claims that Topuria needs to prove himself by beating top contenders at featherweight before moving up to the lightweight division.
Pimblett's comments come as he prepares to face Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314, a fight that could be a significant step up in competition for him. Pimblett has expressed his desire to face Topuria in the future, saying he wants to prove everyone wrong and show that he is the superior fighter. The criticism from Brown and Pimblett has put Topuria's decision to move up to the lightweight division under scrutiny, with many questioning his ability to compete against top fighters in the division.
As the debate surrounding Topuria's move continues, fans and critics alike will be watching his future fights closely to see if he can prove himself in the lightweight division. With Pimblett and Brown weighing in on the issue, the pressure is on Topuria to deliver a strong performance in his upcoming fights and silence his critics.
