Ilia Topuria has only one goal in mind for his future bouts – securing a fight with featherweight legends.
In the aftermath of his triumphant win over Josh Emmett at the UFC Jacksonville main event this Saturday, Topuria left no room for doubt about his ambitions. He stated that he is the primary contender for the 145-pound title, explicitly expressing his desire to contend against the long-standing champion Alexander Volkanovski. Volkanovski’s upcoming defence against interim champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 on July 8 has caught Topuria’s attention.
During the post-fight press conference, Topuria was questioned about his willingness to fight Max Holloway if Volkanovski manages to beat Rodriguez and then pursues a rematch with the lightweight champion Islam Makhachev instead of defending his featherweight title.
“I’m unaware if Volkanovski is occupied or not,” Topuria responded, “but I’m next in line, and I can wait. Patience is one of my strongest attributes. If an opportunity arises to fight Max Holloway in Spain, I’m ready. If not, I’ll patiently wait for my shot at the title.”
Like Volkanovski, Holloway’s upcoming bout is already scheduled. He is set to meet “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung at UFC Singapore on Aug. 26. Holloway, the former UFC champion, is heavily favored to triumph over Jung, leaving the possibility of a fight with Topuria up to the matchmakers.
Topuria visualizes Holloway as the perfect opponent for a bout in Spain, where he resides and trains. “One of my dreams is to win a UFC world championship and bring the UFC to Spain,” shared Topuria, “Achieving this dream would be a monumental moment for me.”
Nevertheless, Topuria’s ultimate objective is a championship bout, ideally against Volkanovski, who has proved unbeatable in the featherweight category with victories over Holloway, Jung, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes. Volkanovski’s unbeaten streak came to an end this past February at UFC 284, when he was unsuccessful in his attempt to take the lightweight title from Makhachev.
Topuria is keen to be the one to end Volkanovski’s reign in the 145-pound division. “I demonstrated my prowess tonight,” stated Topuria, “No one can match my skill level in the cage. I firmly believe I can finish anyone in this division. Josh was a tough opponent tonight, but I won easily. I predict it won’t be any different with Alex, I intend to knock him out in the first or second round. If not, I’m confident I can dominate him for five rounds without any issue.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ilia Topuria
Who did Ilia Topuria recently defeat in the UFC Jacksonville main event?
Ilia Topuria recently defeated Josh Emmett in the UFC Jacksonville main event.
Who does Ilia Topuria aim to challenge next for the featherweight title?
Ilia Topuria wants to challenge the reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski for the 145-pound featherweight title.
Would Ilia Topuria consider fighting Max Holloway if the opportunity arises?
Yes, Ilia Topuria stated he would be open to fighting Max Holloway in Spain if the opportunity arose.
Where does Ilia Topuria want to fight Max Holloway?
Ilia Topuria expressed his wish to fight Max Holloway in Spain, where he lives and trains.
Who is Ilia Topuria’s ultimate opponent for the championship fight?
Ilia Topuria’s ultimate goal is to have a championship fight against Alexander Volkanovski.
What is one of Ilia Topuria’s dreams as a UFC fighter?
One of Ilia Topuria’s dreams as a UFC fighter is to become a world champion and to bring the UFC to Spain.
More about Ilia Topuria
- Ilia Topuria’s Fighter Profile
- Alexander Volkanovski’s Fighter Profile
- Max Holloway’s Fighter Profile
- UFC Featherweight Rankings
- UFC Championship History
- UFC’s Past Events
4 comments
Topuria’s patience is impressive, but Holloway’s experience is on another level. I say this could be a real close one!
No way Topuria’s ready for Holloway. Max is a beast, this kid’s gonna learn the hard way. U see Max’s last fight? Brutal!
Topuria talking a big game hope he can back it up. waiting for volkanovski to shut him up.
topuria got skillz, watched him fight last time and it was like poetry in motion. He ain’t afraid of Holloway…bring it on!