UFC 308 Mailbag: How lengthy can Ilia Topuria reign over the featherweight division?

UFC 308 passed off this previous Saturday, with each Ilia Topuria and Khamzat Chimaev delivering unbelievable performances. Within the co-main occasion, Chimaev actually broke Robert Whittaker’s face en path to a first-round submission, after which in the principle occasion Topuria did what some believed to be unattainable: he knocked out Max Holloway.

So with some huge, huge issues taking place final weekend, let’s reply a few of your questions on all of it.

How lengthy can Ilia Topuria reign?

“Of all the present fighters on the UFC roster, is there anyone you’re extra assured will likely be champion on Jan. 1, 2027 than Topuria?

Guys, I don’t know if I discussed this however

ILIA TOPURIA FREAKING KILLED MAX HOLLOWAY! THE UNBREAKABLE CHIN GOT BROKEN!! WHAT IS THE LIMIT TO WHAT HE CAN KNOCK OUT?!?! CAN TOPURIA DEMOLISH A BUILDING WITH HIS BARE HANDS?!?! SHOULD WE FIND OUT?!

Sorry, simply needed to get that out.

Look, I perceive the arguments attempting to mood expectations for Topuria proper now: each Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in all probability aren’t of their primes anymore. I don’t care. Felling Holloway with the relative ease Topuria had is an astonishing accomplishment within the historical past of this sport. And he’s solely 27 years previous!

The Topuria we noticed on Saturday is among the greatest fighters on Earth (if not the most effective) and that’s the worst model of him we’re going to see for the subsequent 5 years. Take into consideration that. He demolished the 2 males who’ve reigned over this division the previous seven years and he did it with out subject. Dude, it’s curtains for the remainder of the featherweights on the market proper now. I’d inform you to vary weight courses however light-weight and Islam Makhachev ain’t any higher.

Now, there’s all the time the likelihood that somebody comes alongside out of comparatively nowhere. When Holloway took the title he was 25 and it appeared like we have been in a for an extended reign, after which Volkanovski ascended. Perhaps one thing related occurs right here, however I doubt it. The one method Topuria is dropping the 145-pound title within the subsequent 4 years is that if he strikes up a weight class.

Topuria’s efficiency

“You’ve mentioned earlier than you thought Volk was the most effective fighter you’ve ever seen, after tonight how excessive is Ilia on that listing? Is he probably the most proficient featherweight ever? (Younger Aldo provides him a run for that if simply evaluating how significantly better than their competitors)”

Properly, what I mentioned was the Volkanovski that beat Max Holloway of their third combat is perhaps the most effective fighter I’ve ever seen. And that’s to not say Volk is the GOAT or something like that, extra to level out that Volk on that night time delivered a flawless efficiency in opposition to an all-time nice fighter, which is extraordinarily uncommon.

And for as nice as Topuria was and is, his win on Saturday just isn’t the identical. Whereas it was additionally an distinctive efficiency and had a extra definitive ending, Topuria’s win was not flawless. Many individuals had Holloway profitable the primary two rounds (and I don’t blame them, although I didn’t rating it that method). Although he misplaced the warfare, Max received lots of the battles on Saturday night time. Conversely, in opposition to Volkanovski of their trilogy bout, Max misplaced each battle and misplaced the warfare (additionally, I’d argue that was a greater model of Max however that’s a separate subject).

To me, Volk’s third win over Holloway was an all-time nice on the absolute peak of his powers. Topuria’s win at UFC 308 was an ascending expertise teasing what is feasible. It’s loopy to assume however I’m anticipating significantly better performances from him sooner or later.

So in these phrases, Topuria is fairly far down the listing. However that can include time and tenure atop the game. However for now, that efficiency eliminated all debate about Fighter of the Yr for me (Topuria wins in a landslide, his two wins have a case for being the most effective two-win stretch of any MMA profession ever) and legitimately inserted him into the pound-for-pound dialogue. That must be sufficient for one night time’s work.

Alexander Volkanovski, title challenger

“Ought to Volk want to choose up a win earlier than combating Topuria once more?

“I’d be often extra on board with a long-reigning champ getting a rematch, however in Volk’s case the context is just a little completely different due to the 2 Islam losses that preceded him shedding the belt.”

He completely ought to, however that’s not what’s taking place.

I’ve made my ideas on this level identified lots, however I hate instant rematches. In most situations, the instant rematch merely results in the one that misplaced shedding once more, in worse style. The remainder of the time, it’s mainly a free mulligan for the loser and minimizes the importance of the primary combat. To me, the one time there ought to ever be a direct rematch in MMA is to resolve a draw or no-contest, or a trilogy combat the place they cut up the primary two encounters. Every other time, return and get one win not less than.

So in fact I believe Volkanovski ought to combat once more earlier than getting one other shot at Topuria. Personally, I believe the most effective concept is to have Volk combat Diego Lopes when the UFC goes again to Australia for UFC 312. Heck, make it for an interim belt, who cares? Then the winner will get Topuria and that offers the UFC sufficient time to determine the logistics for Topuria to defend his title in opposition to the winner in Spain, someday subsequent summer time.

However that’s not how the game works and I’ve needed to make my peace with it. Volkanovski goes to get his rematch and I gotta be sincere, it’s going to be a tough look ahead to you Volk followers. He’s going to get thumped once more.

Light-weight?

“As soon as Ilia retires Volk what’s subsequent? Can he actually problem the grappling prowess of Islam or Armen at 155?”

There’s already a ton of this sentiment on the market with folks calling to see Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev and all I’ve to say to that’s No. No no no no no no.

Sure, I believe Topuria will beat anybody he fights at featherweight. However me pondering it and it taking place are two very various things. Loads of folks thought Max would beat Topuria. If we simply dismissed title challengers due to public sentiment, then why would we even have fights within the first place? We may simply do web polls as a substitute.

Being a champion means defending your title and giving others the identical probability you your self got: their day in courtroom to show they’re the most effective on this planet. Now we have GOT to cease reserving champ vs. champ fights when each champions have greater than sufficient work to do.

Diego Lopes deserves a title shot. The winner of Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling will deserve a title shot. And by the point Topuria defends these, perhaps Arnold Allen may have a number of wins and deserve a title shot. The person is 27. Let’s see him really clear out a division earlier than we begin calling for a transfer up.

(Additionally, if Makhachev did that, three of his 4/5 title defenses can be in opposition to guys from the load class beneath him. I do know Jon Jones constructed a GOAT case doing that, however I would like extra from Makhachev).

Max Holloway

“Do you assume a everlasting transfer as much as light-weight is the most effective factor for Max now? The burden minimize that’s not getting simpler, all of the injury he took through the years plus this brutal profession altering KO appears like the mix of every thing you don’t wish to do anymore.”

I assumed Max ought to’ve moved up after the third Volkanovski combat. Not as a result of he can’t compete (clearly he may) however as a result of he’d fought a lot of the dudes at 145 and light-weight supplied extra enjoyable matchups. I nonetheless imagine that to be the case at the moment, although now there’s a caveat.

As soon as a chin will get cracked, it’s by no means the identical. Shifting as much as light-weight could also be good for Holloway in lessening the load minimize, nevertheless it additionally places him with a completely completely different tier of hitter. Featherweight is a good weight class, however solely Topuria and Josh Emmett are the true huge punchers there. Other than lightweights generally having extra energy, the division additionally homes Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler and others who all clobber fools.

I’m not saying Max can’t compete up at light-weight, he can. I’m simply saying along with his chin now not invulnerable, there’s extra danger with the transfer up now than I’d have thought a pair years in the past.

Khamzat Chimaev

“Am I insane, I’d be assured Chimaev may very well be champion in WW, MW and LHW! I’m torn on if I believe he may problem Tom Aspinall at heavyweight. Is that ridiculous or honest?”

A bit of of column A, just a little of column B.

After what he simply did to Robert Whittaker on Saturday, it’s clearly not insane to assume Chimaev can turn into middleweight champion. The truth is he’s already the betting favourite to beat Dricus du Plessis ought to they combat.

I also can see the case for Chimaev at gentle heavyweight. All of us love Alex Pereira nevertheless it’s not a giant stretch to think about Chimaev touchdown a low single-leg and the dummying the champion on the bottom.

It’s the opposite two that give me pause. Way back I used to be satisfied Chimaev would turn into the welterweight champion, however these days are gone. After his catastrophic weight fiasco at UFC 279, the UFC in all probability received’t ever let him attempt to go right down to 170 once more and with good motive. Did you see him on the dimensions for UFC 308? The unsung MVP of this complete occasion was the weigh-in official who blitzed via Chimaev’s time on the dimensions. Man ain’t making 170 once more.

And yeah, I like Chimaev however Tom Aspinall rinses him. Forty kilos is numerous kilos and that’s roughly the sting he has on Chimaev in weight. Plus Chimaev makes use of loads of robust man techniques that simply received’t fly in opposition to a bodily presence of that dimension.

Title challenger?

“I believe Chimaev has handed Strickland for the title shot- is the priority that he apparently can’t keep wholesome the one potential impediment to DDP-Chimaev?”

You aren’t the one one, Zak. The truth is, the one one that doesn’t assume that is perhaps Sean Strickland himself who’s out right here tweeting like a person who is aware of deep down he misplaced his declare to the title shot.

Look, I do know there are considerations with Chimaev staying wholesome and his rumored (although by no means confirmed) journey ban, however this isn’t laborious: he’s bought subsequent. He’s massively well-liked and simply BROKE ROBERT WHITTAKER’S FREAKING FACE! Strickland having a deeply uninspiring win over Paulo Costa (who has zero wins over folks at the moment employed by the UFC) simply ain’t gonna minimize it.

DDP vs. Chimaev is the one combat to make and I can’t look ahead to it.

Robert Whittaker

“The place does the imagery of Whitaker’s harm rank in your lexicon of graphic MMA accidents through the years?”

Have you ever seen it? That is nightmare gas!

There are many horrible accidents that occur in MMA. Legs shatter, arms get damaged, skulls fracture, and noses get disfigured regularly. Heck, Irene Aldana set a brand new customary for horrific cuts two months in the past! However there’s one thing about enamel that simply will get me. Whittaker appeared like he had dentures that fell out into his mouth. It was disgusting. Credit score to “Bobby Knuckles” who’s dealing with this significantly better than I ever would as a result of that picture continues to be haunting me a number of days later.

So to reply your query, that is proper on the high. By no means on this historical past of my fandom have I ever thought “No, I don’t wish to be an Final Fighter” greater than on Saturday night time.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you will have any burning questions on issues not less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definitely’re in luck, as a result of you possibly can ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! Doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.