3 Fights for Ilia Topuria at Lightweight as Dana White Declines Islam Makhachev Fight

Ilia Topuria made an honorable decision to vacate his title. He wanted to fight the lightweight champion and did not want to make the weight for the 145 lbs division again. So, he decided to step out of the way for other contenders – something Dana White admired and Chael Sonnen had suggested. Last week, Dana White announced that ‘El Matador’ relinquished his title to permanently fight in the 155-lb division, sending tremors across the MMA realm. Topuria has been eager to challenge the lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, for the title. However, to earn a shot, he must first navigate through a barrage of contenders, as the Dagestani has made it clear that he will not grant ‘El Matador’ an opportunity anytime soon.

“I’m not going to give him a shot right away because he hasn’t done all the work he was supposed to in his weight class. There are still contenders he needs to beat, but he doesn’t want to cut weight anymore. Let him move up and earn his shot, and we’ll definitely fight,” said Islam Makhachev. So, with a challenge set by the champion, who are the fighters with whom Ilia Topuria can fight before vying for the 155 lbs gold? Let’s have a look at it.

Dustin Poirier

“I love that dog Dustin Poirier. He’s a fighter, you know what I mean… he goes in and he fights till he dies. You’re going to have that guy in front of you fighting and trying to take your head off. That’s a very exciting fight for me and I think for the fans also,” said Ilia Topuria when asked about a fight with Dustin Poirier. Paying his respect to ‘The Diamond’s legacy, Ilia Topuria emphasized that a clash between him and the lightweight stalwart would be a spectacle for the fans.

It is worth noting that Dustin Poirier has been demanding a farewell fight from the promotion, emphasizing that he would only face a legend. Ilia Topuria could be the perfect opponent for the ‘The Diamond,’ as both fighters meet each other’s criteria. If Poirier wins the clash, he will become the first person to defeat Ilia Topuria and retire with grace. However, if Topuria defeats Poirier, he will be on track for a showdown with Islam Makhachev. The fight might be enticing but at the end of the day, it is Dana White, who shall make the battle.

Charles Oliveira

“You match up Topuria and Oliveira, and they fight relatively soon. Islam is in Ramadan, and they don’t want to fight during Ramadan. He doesn’t want to train during Ramadan,” said Daniel Cormier as he emphasized that Ilia Topruia should prove his mettle against former champ, Charles Oliveira before fighting for the belt.

Islam Makhachev will be unable to fight during Ramadan, creating an opportunity for the promotion to book a bout between ‘Do Bronx’ and ‘El Matador.’ Charles Oliveira, currently on a one-fight winning streak, is next in line for a rematch against Makhachev. A showdown with Ilia Topuria would make sense as a potential title eliminator, determining the next contender for the lightweight crown.

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A submission specialist vs. a precision striker would be a clash that would not only set the stage for the lightweight division but also ensure that Dana White earns enough revenue from the fight.

Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan was scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311. However, a back injury forced him to withdraw from the bout at the eleventh hour. Following his withdrawal, UFC CEO Dana White stressed that the Armenian fighter would need to work his way back up to earn another title shot, as an immediate rematch would not be offered.

This opens up the window for the UFC to book a match between Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria. Their clash would be perfect because both of the fighters have the same build and both of them are at the peak of their careers. A victory for either of them would mean a direct ticket to the championship battle.

So, that’s Poirier, Oliveira, and Tsarukyan who could welcome the Georgian-Spaniard into the shark tank that is lightweight. Each of those fights could get Topuria a title shot, if he wins. Now, there is one more honorable mention – Max Holloway. ‘Blessed’ is now a ranked lightweight, thanks to the BMF title win. But we did not consider him for the list since the other three are fresh matchups, and more established at lightweights. Besides, he just suffered his first-ever KO loss at the hands of Topuria a few months ago. So, it’s unlikely the UFC will want to rebook that match immediately.

Given that, what do you think would be the best fight for Ilia Topuria in the lightweight division? State your thoughts in the comments below.