Islam Makhachev Likely Next for Ilia Topuria
Topuria's historic victory has set the stage for a potential showdown with Makhachev, who is expected to secure the welterweight title before facing the two-division champion. With other contenders like Tsarukyan and Pimblett also in the mix, Topuria's next fight is shaping up to be a thrilling and highly anticipated event.
Ilia Topuria's historic victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 has left the MMA world stunned, and his next opponent is already being speculated. With his sights set on defending his titles in both featherweight and lightweight divisions, Topuria's next fight is expected to be against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Makhachev, who relinquished his title to move up to welterweight, is currently the favorite to win against Jack Della Maddalena. However, many believe that once he secures the welterweight title, he will face Topuria next. Other contenders for Topuria's next fight include Arman Tsarukyan, who has a strong record in the UFC, and Paddy Pimblett, who has a running feud with Topuria and could bring a significant pay-per-view draw.
Dustin Poirier, a seasoned MMA fighter, has praised Topuria's performance at UFC 318, calling him a "big fan" and saying he's "everything that he said he is so far". Poirier cautions Topuria against jumping up to welterweight to fight Makhachev, saying it's a "stretch" and that Topuria should defend his lightweight title a few times before considering a move. Poirier believes Topuria can knock out Makhachev, citing Topuria's power and technique.
As the MMA world waits with bated breath for Topuria's next move, one thing is certain - his next fight will be highly anticipated and closely watched. With his impressive skills and formidable opponents, Topuria is set to continue making waves in the MMA world, and his potential fight against Islam Makhachev is already generating significant buzz.