Movsar
Evloev is coming for Ilia
Topuria.
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The
UFC featherweight title picture is in a bit of a fix right now.
Topuria won the title by knocking out Alexander
Volkanovski at UFC 298 last year and defended it by handing
Max
Holloway his only career knockout loss at UFC 308. With
Holloway considering a permanent move to lightweight, Diego Lopes
and Movsar
Evloev are in the running for title contention next.
However, Topuria has expressed an interest in moving up to
lightweight soon, citing a lack of contenders at 145 pounds. Evloev
is not bothered by Topuria’s comments, as he is currently focused
on becoming world champion — regardless of the opponent he has to
face. However, the Russian wants “El Matador” at some point and is
willing to chase him across weight classes. But most importantly,
Evloev believes Topuria isn’t going to move up before defending his
featherweight throne at least once more.
“Ilia start talking that he’s moving up also, especially after my
fight,” Evloev recently told MMAFighting.com. “I don’t know what’s going on. But
for me, it doesn’t matter who will be my next opponent. Even if the
champion moves up, he will leave the title, I will get the title,
and then I will follow him. Lightweight is not too far for me… Even
if he moves up, I will take the belt first, because this is my
first goal, and then I will go after him, even if he [goes to]
middleweight. He is not a big guy. I don’t need to cut weight to
beat this guy. I need his head [on] my list. But I don’t think that
he will leave the title. He not gonna go to lightweight. He will
defend his belt again soon.”
Topuria has finished six of his eight UFC wins so far, displaying a
unique blend of devastating power and sound technique. Meanwhile,
Evloev is undefeated as well but has yet to earn a finish in UFC
competition.