UFC featherweight king Ilia Topuria is eyeing a bold new challenge. His team has hinted at moving up to the lightweight division, citing the physical toll of cutting weight as a significant factor. According to his coach, Jorge Climent, the transition isn’t just about the struggles of maintaining featherweight—it’s also fueled by Topuria’s desire to achieve greatness by capturing a second belt.

During a recent interview with El Partidazo de Cope, Topuria candidly revealed that defending his featherweight title no longer lights the fire it once did. For ‘El Matador’, the next chapter in his career is about testing his limits against the best fighters in a new division. Among the potential opponents, his team is targeting? Former interim lightweight king Dustin Poirier! But can Topuria hold his own against a seasoned veteran like Poirier? His coach has no doubts.

Jorge Climent weighs in on the advantages Ilia Topuria holds over Poirier

Dustin Poirier has been the talk of the MMA community, but not for his signature striking skills. Fans are eagerly speculating about when ‘The Diamond’ will return to action for his swansong. In his previous summer showdown against Islam Makhachev, Poirier delivered a gritty performance, pushing the Dagestani to his limits before succumbing to a submission loss. For many, it seemed like a potential farewell for the Louisiana native, who had previously hinted at stepping away from the sport.

In a candid conversation with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Poirier expressed renewed enthusiasm for competition and hinted at a possible return. Meanwhile, the UFC’s featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, has stirred up excitement with his potential move to lightweight, with Poirier emerging as a potential opponent for Topuria’s team. Jorge Climent has made no secret of their confidence in a matchup with ‘The Diamond’.

During an appearance on Submission Radio, Climent broke down how Topuria stacks up against Poirier, “That is going to be a great match. He has very good skill in striking. He’s a tough guy but I think Ilia is having a better striking. I think he has better wrestling. And the Jiu Jitsu of Ilia is great. I know Dustin has a very good Jiu Jitsu. I think it’s a very good match but I think Ilia can knock him down or finish him.” 

While no official announcements have been made regarding Topuria’s move to lightweight or a fight with Poirier, fans are buzzing at the prospect. Adding to the intrigue, fans are also calling for the 145lbs kingpin to secure a super-fight with

Islam Makhachev. The Dagestani phenom is scheduled to make his record-fourth title defense against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 in January.

For the unversed, Topuria and ‘Team Khabib’ have been involved in a lot of social media brawls recently which has ignited the fire for this bout. Now with Topuria trying to make a move to the new division, will the fight happen in the future? Let’s see what Coach Climent has to say!

Is the Topuria vs. Makhachev super fight still on the cards?

Before his dominant victory over Max Holloway earlier this year, Topuria was already setting his sights on a greater challenge. ‘El Matador’ had openly expressed interest in moving up to lightweight to face Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound title. While the idea was initially brushed aside due to Topuria’s ongoing commitments in the featherweight division, the conversation hasn’t gone away.

For his part, Makhachev has downplayed the prospect of fighting Topuria, suggesting that such a matchup doesn’t benefit his career. Despite the lightweight champion’s reservations, Jorge Climent believes it’s only a matter of time before the fight becomes inevitable. In the same interview, Climent shared his perspective on Makhachev’s reluctance,“I understand his position. He [gave] the opportunity to Alex to fight for the belt. Maybe he thinks Ilia doesn’t deserve to make [that fight] happen if he doesn’t fight first with the top 10 ranked. I think he’s intelligent and I think in the future maybe it’s going to happen.”

Topuria has firmly established himself as one of the most dominant champions in the division’s history, showcasing his striking precision. While a move to 155lbs would be a significant shake-up, it would also leave a void in the 145-pound division. And fans still want to see Topuria continue his reign. What’s your take? Should Topuria stay in featherweight to cement his legacy, or should he chase greatness in the lightweight division? Drop your picks for his next opponent in the comments below!