The MMA world is buzzing with talk about a potential showdown between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev. ‘El Matador’ is the current featherweight champion who has been tearing it up in the featherweight division. As for Makhachev, the guy is a dominant force in the lightweight division, and he’s been carving a path of destruction through his opponents.
So, naturally, when there are two elite-level fighters like that, people start wondering – who would win in a fight? And that’s exactly what Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champ, was asked about in a recent interview.
“[Topuria winning via] submission, obviously, I don’t see that happening. Can he knock Islam out? Of course he can. He can knock anyone out in these two divisions [featherweight and lightweight],” said Volkanovski via The Ariel Helwani Show.
Alexander Volkanovski has fought both Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. He reckoned the Spaniard has got the chops to knock Makhachev out cold. But if the game goes to the ground, ‘The Great’ is confident that the Dagestani can easily win.
All signs point to Ilia Topuria being a real threat to Makhachev’s reign. The kid has got the power, the skill, and now, even the validation from some of the biggest names in the game. But Islam Makhachev is no ordinary man. His name alone sends shivers down the spines of his potential opponents. It remains to be seen whether the UFC will be interested in this matchup.
Ilia Topuria Willing To Rematch Alexander Volkanovski Next
It all started at UFC 308, where Topuria put on a dominant performance against the ever-dangerous Max Holloway. The former UFC featherweight champion made his way into the octagon to confront the Georgian champion.
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But instead of the typical chest-puffing, trash-talking display fans have come to expect from these intense rivalries, Ilia Topuria and Volkanovski actually showed some genuine respect for each other. And the champion even agreed to grant Volkanovski a rematch.
“We are going to do it again. You deserve that. You the man. He defended his title 7 times. If someone deserves it, it’s him,” said Topuria at the post-fight interview.
These guys clearly have some unfinished business, and the fact that they’re willing to settle it in the octagon in a respectful manner just adds to the intrigue. This kind of sportsmanship at the highest level of MMA is rare, especially where egos can sometimes get in the way of common sense.
Also Read: How Much Money Did Ilia Topuria Earn Finishing Max Holloway at UFC 308?
