UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria’s dominance has him desiring a move up to lightweight.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is coming off back-to-back knockouts of featherweight greats Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 and Max Holloway at UFC 308. His resume also includes wins over ranked contenders Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett.
Although Topuria wants to challenge lightweight champion Islam Makhachev next, he’s not short of contenders just yet, with the likes of Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev impressing in their current runs. Jorge Masvidal sees his American Top Team training partner, Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), having the grappling prowess to potentially beat Topuria.
“We got another killer from American Top Team. This one sucks for me because these are two friends of mine,” Masvidal said on the “JAXXON PODCAST.” “I love both these guys. I love Ilia, and I love Movsar. Movsar is the complete opposite in many ways because he can wrestle, man. This dude can wrestle. He’s undefeated in the UFC and has great wins.
“He is the type of guy you would think you need to beat a guy like Ilia. Don’t stand with him, because obviously, he’s got some secret sauce in his hands. Take this dude down, control him, and maybe Movsar is the guy to do it. I love Diego Lopes, I love his style because this guy comes to fight, but I think Ilia gets him. Movsar is probably going to be the toughest fight for him in that weight class.”
Evloev remained unbeaten when he outscrambled Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 this past December. He’s ready for his shot at Topuria, but if “El Matador” sticks around at 145 pounds for his next fight, he plans on granting Volkanovski a rematch first.
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