LAS VEGAS – Ilya Topuria believes Aleksander Volkanovski wants to return to lightweight after UFC 290 because he sees Islam Makhachev as a more winnable match.
Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) punched his ticket to top featherweight contender status with UFC on ABC 5 in a main event win over Josh Emmett this month. He is anxiously awaiting the outcome of Saturday’s match between Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and Yair Rodriguez (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), which will be held at T-Mobile Arena and broadcast on the following pay-per-view prelims on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+.
It remains to be seen if Topuria will actually have a winner. Volkanovski is keen to avenge his currently only octagonal defeat to Makhachev at UFC 284 in February, and said he believes he’ll get a chance to successfully defend the title against Rodriguez.
Topuria questions the real motive by the potential return, believing it is because Volkanovski wants to avoid him.
“He’s looking for a rematch with Islam,” Topuria told MMA Junkie on UFC Radio X. “He wants to go up to 155 because he’s running away from the real danger. He knows where the real danger is, and I’m at 145. He’s looking for an easy way. He wants to go up to 155.”
“Without a doubt (he thinks it’s the easiest fight). He was already in the cage with him. He didn’t do anything to him. They went to the decision, like a normal fight. He wants to come back. Of course.”
If Topuria gets his wish for a fight with Volkanovski (or Rodriguez if he emerges victorious), he believes there is potential for a titanic fight.
An undefeated contender against one of the best fighters in the sport would be an easy sell to MMA fans, and Topuria believes there is serious selling potential.
“It can be huge,” Topuria said. “It could be really huge. We’ll see how the UFC, how they’re going to promote the fight. It could be huge.”
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