{"id":18762,"date":"2025-02-06T15:56:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T14:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=18762"},"modified":"2025-02-06T15:56:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T14:56:30","slug":"ilia-topuria-reveals-his-intentions-on-the-islam-makhachev-super-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/ilia-topuria-reveals-his-intentions-on-the-islam-makhachev-super-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I know I Am Much Better Than Him’ – Ilia Topuria Reveals His Intentions On The Islam Makhachev Super Fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

The meteoric rise of Ilia Topuria has been nothing short of spectacular in the UFC<\/a>‘s featherweight division. After demolishing two of the greatest 145-pounders ever – Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway – in stunning fashion, ‘El Matador’ has quickly established himself as one of the most dominant champions in recent memory.<\/p>

His perfect 16-0 record speaks volumes, but it’s the way he’s dismantled his opponents that has everyone in the fight game talking. Those highlight-reel knockouts in 2024 didn’t just win him fights, they won him a spot for Fighter of the Year honors and sent a clear message to every division.<\/p>

Now sitting pretty at number three in the pound-for-pound rankings, Topuria isn’t content with just ruling the featherweight roost. The undefeated champion has his sights set on something bigger, specifically the lightweight king Islam Makhachev. And he is not just talking about moving up for a challenge, he is flat-out declaring he can dominate the current pound-for-pound king.<\/p>

Also Read: 7 UFC Stars and Their Heartbreaking Decline, feat. Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Ilia Topuria’s Callout<\/h2>

Topuria didn’t mince words when talking to Fox Sports Australia about his plans. He believes moving up to 155 pounds is his destiny. The featherweight champ boldly claims he knows he is better than Makhachev in every aspect of the fight game. That’s some serious swagger from someone looking to jump up a weight class!<\/p>

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“Me, personally, what I want to do is move up to 155 because I know that I can become a two-weight world champion. Islam, he’s a great fighter, he’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound for the people. For me, it’s me, myself, I’m the best fighter in the world, so I know that I can do with him whatever I want to do, because I know that I am much better than him.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>

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🚨 Ilia Topuria on Islam Makhachev:

\"What I want is to go up to 155”

“Islam is a great fighter, #1 P4P, but for me it's me, I'm the best in the world and I know I can do with him whatever I want because I'm much better than him”

🎥 @MainEventTV<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YkhKRhOfKY<\/a><\/p>— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) February 5, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>