Las Vegas — Not that he isn’t already a star, but UFC 317, capping off International Fight Week on Saturday, feels like the real star turn for Ilia Topuria.
The now-former featherweight champ vacated his 145lb title for a shot at lightweight gold, which arrives in the main event this weekend. Islam Makhachev, in turn, vacated his 155lb title to open up the opportunity, which comes against former champ Charles Oliveira.
Yet asked about whether Saturday was his biggest fight yet, Topuria (16-0) hesitated during Wednesday’s media day appearance. “I don’t know what to tell you,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press. “It feels exactly the same to be honest.”
Maybe that’s because he’s always seen himself being part of big events. “Or maybe it’s because it’s the same,” retorted Topuria.
Still, Topuria certainly thinks big. When it comes to the Georgian-Spanish contender, he has his eyes on Makhachev, should the Dagestani claim gold at welterweight, where Jack Della Maddalena is currently champion. “It would be much better for me to fight him at 170. And I will beat him, and get the third title. That will be the best scenario for me.”
As for Oliveira, despite names like Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan being in contention, Topuria believes “Do Bronx” is the most deserving lightweight for this title fight. “A hundred percent. He’s the best lightweight right now,” Topuria told Cageside Press. “If we don’t count Islam, he’s the best after him.”
Oliveira has promised to march forward in the cage at UFC 317. “He’s going to try to walk forward, he’s not going to find a way to do it,” countered Topuria. “And I’m going to make him play my game, as I said.”
Topuria also addressed one missing element of his own game over the years: his lack of body and head kicks. An explosive striker, “El Matador” has never thrown either inside the octagon.
“The kicks never was a quality that I ever had as a fighter,” he explained. “So I don’t know. I never liked the body kicks and the head kicks.”
Watch the full UFC 317 media day appearance by Ilia Topuria above.
