Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ilia Topuria thinks a rematch with Volkanovski will end up the same way but calls Volk a beast.

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ilia Topuria is continuing his journey to rise to the top and he’s just getting started. After beating Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, he is sitting at the featherweight throne with no threats nearby. He stopped Holloway from becoming the greatest featherweight of all time and knocked Volkanovski out cold. Now he’s been teasing the fans about potentially jumping up a weight class and fighting Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. We are constantly seeing a trend in the UFC where after winning the belt, fighters prefer to move up a notch to challenge fighters from another division. So will we see Topuria take on Makhachev?

Also Read: ‘Probably Not’- Sean Strickland Gives Major Update On His Coaching Team After UFC 312!

ILIA TOPURIA KNOCKED ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI OUT COLD pic.twitter.com/zvGldhWxCy
— Stream Highlights Clips (@selfemprovement) February 18, 2024

Probably not right now, as a rematch could be in the works for Topuria to take on Volkanovski again. We saw what happened the last time they went at it so is it fair to say that the fight will be boring? We don’t think so and neither does Topuria. Even though Ilia is known to be confident, he knows the last two fighters he faced are all going to be Hall of Famers someday. He also knows that cockiness can, many times, get the better of you. So he showed respect to his former opponent, Volkanovski, on Full Send Podcast.

Topuria shows respect to the great Alexander Volkanovski

In the podcast, Topuria said “I have to give him (Volkanovski) his credit because you never know what is going to happen.” He continued “The rematch, I’m sure that I’m gonna knock him out once again if we fight or I will submit him… But at the same time you can’t joke with that guy. He’s a f***ing legend. The only thing he knows to do is fighting so I can’t underestimate him at all because he’s a f***ing beast.”

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Even though Topuria beat Volkanovski off by knocking him out, he knows that a split second mistake is all it takes for a fighter like Volkanovski to capitalize on. Also let’s not forget that Volkanovksi has only lost against Topuria and Makhachev in the UFC. He’s beaten Max Holloway three times, Brian Ortega and Jose Aldo once, and many other other fighters in his career. A rematch between Topuria and Volkanovksi would still be entertaining despite the odds being heavily stacked against Volk.

Also Read: Dustin Poirier Goes Back And Forth With Nate Diaz And Paddy Pimblett For His Last Dance

Will we see Topuria fight Volkanovski again?

As mentioned earlier, the fight is not yet announced but there are multiple reports stating that the re-fight between the two is likely to happen soon. However, UFC announcer Joe Rogan and many others think that a rematch is not needed and instead, Topuria should move up in weight class to challenge Makhachev for the lightweight title.

Alexander Volkanovksi

Ilia Topuria

UFC

Eric Divakaran

nba

nfl

mma

I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.