Title fight or bust.
Former UFC featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, surrendered the 145-pound strap to try his luck in the lightweight division, but won’t be throwing hands inside the cage until the promotion books him against current 155-pound titleholder, Islam Makhachev.
Unless matchmakers can somehow convince Conor McGregor to make his MMA return, which seems unlikely now that “Notorious” is chasing a career in politics.
“Actually we had that talk,” Topuria told Joe Rogan about fighting McGregor. “If they offered me a fight against Conor right now, we’ll see. Why not? I wouldn’t say no.”
But once Topuria fights and defeats Makhachev, the answer will be no.
“Do you think it’s gonna be exciting if I beat Islam and then I give the chance to Conor?”
Makhachev does not appear to be in any big hurry to make another lightweight title defense against a featherweight mainstay and could try to resurrect his Arman Tsarukyan rivalry for his summer return, assuming “Ahalkalakets” is not stuck at the “back of the line.”
In Topuria’s absence, Alex Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight crown by defeating Diego Lopes atop the UFC 314 fight card last weekend in Miami. Still just 28, “La Leyenda” (16-0) is also contemplating a move to professional boxing.
