Ilia Topuria recently cemented his status as a premier force in mixed martial arts by capturing the vacant UFC lightweight championship. His decisive first-round knockout victory over the formidable Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 not only earned him the title but also marked his place as a rare two-division champion within the promotion.
Possessing ambitious goals, the Georgian-born Spaniard has openly discussed aspirations of becoming the UFC`s first-ever three-weight champion, eyeing a move to the welterweight division in the future.
However, the organization appears keen for “El Matador” to solidify his reign in the lightweight division before pursuing further conquests. Topuria recently disclosed that UFC brass approached him with an unusual request following his title win: a personal plea, almost a “favour,” to promise not to announce an immediate move to the welterweight class.
Topuria, in a moment perhaps blending sincerity and a fighter`s pragmatic approach, verbally agreed, adding with a smile that he “crossed his fingers” during the exchange – a subtle hint that future plans remain open for negotiation, or perhaps simply subject to his own timetable.
This administrative nudge from the UFC underscores the significant business and sporting considerations surrounding a new champion. There is indeed substantial unfinished business at lightweight, most notably a long-simmering rivalry with the outspoken British fighter, Paddy Pimblett. The animosity between Topuria and “The Baddy” spans several years and nearly boiled over into a physical altercation recently, providing built-in narrative and fan interest.
While Topuria expressed respect for his recent opponent, Charles Oliveira, describing him as a “great human being,” his sentiment toward Pimblett is starkly different. Topuria has explicitly stated his intense desire to fight Pimblett next, articulating a visceral anticipation: “I`m really going to enjoy kicking his a**.” He elaborated, “That`s the guy that I will really enjoy to punch him in the face,” conveying supreme confidence in his ability to dominate the encounter.
The path forward for the new lightweight king appears to involve navigating the promotion`s strategic requests while pursuing the personal satisfaction of settling a score that has captured the attention of the fight world. The “promise” to the UFC brass notwithstanding, the call for a clash with Paddy Pimblett rings loud from the champion himself, setting the stage for what could be his highly anticipated first title defense.
