Ilia Topuria gained’t disguise his long run targets as a UFC champion, however he’s additionally going to tackle no matter problem the promotion throws at him.
Simply days away from his inaugural title protection at 145 kilos, the Georgian-born fighter not too long ago commented that his dream was turning into the UFC’s first ever three-division champion with plans to beat light-weight and welterweight after already claiming the featherweight title. However as a lot as he desires that for himself, Topuria admitted on Wednesday that he’s simply as able to take out light-weight champion Islam Makhachev as he can be if a rematch towards former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is what comes subsequent.
“Earlier than, I used to make extra predictions about that — ‘I need to battle this one or that,’” Topuria defined throughout UFC 308 media day. “However on the finish of the day, I need to do my job, which is to indicate up and battle and we’ll see what the UFC desires me to do.
“In the event that they name me they usually need me to maneuver as much as the light-weight division, I might be OK with that shifting up and be the primary one to submit Islam. If they need me to maintain on defending that belt within the featherweight division, I might be OK with that, too. Let’s go away that call to the UFC.”
There’s at all times going to be new problem for a defending champion, however Topuria has the possibility to place himself in rarified air if he delivers on his promise to defeat Holloway on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
Contemplating he already knocked out Volkanovski again in February, Topuria may add one other all-time featherweight nice to his resume with the upcoming battle towards Holloway. That’s actually not misplaced on Topuria, who has made various daring predictions about his upcoming battle however nonetheless maintains respect relating to Holloway’s abilities and the accolades he’s earned as a 12-year UFC veteran.
“I’ve all of the respect for him,” Topuria mentioned about Holloway. “He’s an awesome fighter. He has achieved many nice issues within the sport. You possibly can’t take credit score from him. I’ve discovered many, many issues from him.
“He referred to as me a fan. Yeah, I adopted his profession, I’ve been a fan. How are you going to not be a fan of Max Holloway? He’s been an awesome instance for me however now it’s my time to be that instance for the subsequent era.”
With regards to the matchup, Topuria has promised that he plans on turning into the primary individual to complete Holloway with strikes, which is a nod to his energy and precision in comparison with the Hawaiian’s legendary sturdiness within the cage.
Prior to now, Holloway has referred to as himself the most effective boxer on your entire UFC roster however Topuria seemingly takes that as a problem to show he’s higher.
“In actuality, he’s a great striker,” Topuria mentioned. “It’s not solely boxer as a result of calling himself the most effective boxer within the UFC is sort of a disgrace, I believe, as a result of he’s not the most effective boxer within the UFC. However he’s a great striker.
“He has lots of expertise, he’s very affected person contained in the octagon. However everybody is nice after they can develop a method within the octagon and somebody is just not placing the stress on him. On Saturday evening, he’s going to really feel one thing he by no means felt with another opponents that he had prior to now. The stress he’s going to really feel with me, it’s going to be fully totally different.”
Topuria additionally responded to Holloway’s declare that he hasn’t but earned the fitting to fulfill him in the midst of the octagon and use his signature transfer, which is pointing to the bottom and welcoming a slugfest to ensue.
Holloway’s argument was that Topuria doesn’t actually perceive why he’s famously used that transfer — a gesture to offer an opponent who’s about to lose the battle one final probability at redemption — however none of that appears to matter a lot to the reigning UFC featherweight champion.
He doesn’t want anyone’s permission so Topuria completely plans on making that problem to begin his battle with Holloway however that’s not the one trick he has up his sleeve.
“I by no means requested him if I deserve that or not,” Topuria mentioned in response. “I might be pointing to the bottom for the reason that first second of the battle.
“If he desires to face with me within the center, it’s OK and show he’s the true ‘BMF.’ If he decides [to not do that], it’s OK, too. I’m going to discover a totally different method to end him and take his head off.”
