New Delhi: Ilia Topuria is eager to meet Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev in person. The goal of “La Leyenda’s” weight increase to 155 pounds is to defeat Makhachev and win the UFC lightweight championship. Topuria, who is currently the featherweight champion, will formally relinquish his championship on Saturday in favour of Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, who will fight for the title in the main event of UFC 314.
Although a formal bout between Topuria and Makhachev has not yet been announced, Topuria has often hinted at a potential future confrontation. When asked in an interview with PBD Podcast what advantages he believes he has over the top-ranked Pound-for-Pound fighter in MMA Fighting, Topuria not only gave a confident response, but he also had a message for Makhachev’s mentor.
“You ask me, I feel that I have the advantage in everything,” Topuria said. “This is what I truly believe. Me, personally, I would ask him, ‘What’s your favorite submission?’ Whatever, I don’t know, D’Arce choke. I’m going to submit you with that.”
The goal of “La Leyenda’s” weight increase to 155 pounds is to defeat Makhachev and win the UFC lightweight championship. Topuria, who is currently the featherweight champion, will formally relinquish his championship on Saturday in favour of Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, who will fight for the title in the main event of UFC 314.
Although a formal bout between Topuria and Makhachev has not yet been announced, Topuria has often hinted at a potential future confrontation. When asked in an interview with PBD Podcast what advantages he believes he has over the top-ranked Pound-for-Pound fighter in MMA Fighting, Topuria not only gave a confident response, but he also had a message for Makhachev’s mentor.
“You ask me, I feel that I have the advantage in everything,” Topuria said. “This is what I truly believe. Me, personally, I would ask him, ‘What’s your favorite submission?’ Whatever, I don’t know, D’Arce choke. I’m going to submit you with that.”
