Ilia Topuria, a prominent fighter who previously held the UFC featherweight championship, has again voiced his thoughts on Islam Makhachev`s decision to vacate the lightweight title and transition to the welterweight category.
“Islam is mentally broken right now,” Topuria asserted during a press conference. “It seems to me that it won’t benefit anyone if you understand that you left the division out of fear. Can you imagine if I left featherweight without a win over Max Holloway? You can’t ignore a contender who has cleared out the division. Fans are chanting his name, and you… What more can I say?”
Topuria further speculated on the impact of Makhachev`s move: “I don’t know how this will affect his performances in the welterweight division. But that’s a fact. Let him do what he wants with his life.”
Notably, Ilia Topuria is set to compete for the vacant lightweight title himself. He is scheduled to face Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 in Las Vegas, USA, on June 28th.
