Ilia Topuria, having recently secured the lightweight championship according to reports detailing his bout against Charles Oliveira, is already looking ahead, outlining a potentially ambitious multi-divisional future. The undefeated fighter has made no secret of his long-term goal: to eventually claim championship status in three different weight classes within the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
While a move up to the welterweight division (170 lbs) seemed like a potential next step immediately following his title win, Topuria has revealed that the promotion itself may be guiding his immediate path differently. In a recent interview, Topuria recounted a specific interaction with UFC officials after the fight against Oliveira.
According to Topuria, the UFC made a direct request regarding his future pronouncements. “They personally asked me the favor like ‘don’t tell us after the fight that you want to move to the welterweight division. Make us a promise,’” Topuria stated. He then added, with a hint of playful defiance that suggests a fighter`s calculated navigation of promotional wishes, “I was like ‘promise.’ I was [crossing my fingers]. I promise.”
This anecdote suggests the UFC has a vested interest in Topuria remaining focused on the lightweight division for the time being. While the prospect of challenging himself at 170 lbs remains a distinct possibility for the future – Topuria himself acknowledged it “could happen” one day – his immediate trajectory appears steered towards defending his newly acquired belt.
The lightweight landscape is populated with formidable contenders, and Topuria wasted no time in identifying his preferred next opponent. Standing out from the potential challengers is Paddy Pimblett. This particular matchup appears to be less about strategic ranking and more about personal animus. Topuria expressed a clear desire for this specific confrontation, describing it in stark, unvarnished terms.
“That’s the guy that I will really enjoy to punch him in the face,” Topuria declared, making the personal nature of this rivalry abundantly clear. He added a challenge, “Tell me, kid, what you want me to do with you. I’m going to do whatever I want to do.” This indicates a fight driven by genuine dislike and a desire for a conclusive, dominant victory over a specific foe.
Conversely, when presented with other potential top contenders in the division, Topuria displayed a dismissive attitude. Specifically addressing the suggestion of a fight against Justin Gaethje, Topuria`s response was pointed and arguably, slightly ironic. “The only thing I realize is that you don’t like the guy,” Topuria retorted to the interviewer, implying that suggesting such a fight was detrimental to Gaethje, “Because I don’t know why you want to put him against me.” This dismissive tone underscores Topuria`s perceived confidence and selective focus on the matchups he deems most significant or personally compelling.
In essence, Ilia Topuria is a lightweight champion with broad, multi-divisional ambitions. However, his immediate path seems to be strategically shaped by the UFC, which appears keen on establishing his reign and capitalizing on specific, high-interest matchups within the lightweight division first. While the allure of becoming a three-division champion remains, the immediate future for “El Matador” likely involves defending his current title, potentially against a rival he is particularly eager to face, fulfilling a promise to the promotion – albeit perhaps with fingers mentally crossed.
