Ilia Topuria is definitely ruffling some feathers with his bid to jump ahead in the lightweight division to a title shot against Islam Makhachev. And why wouldn’t they? This is, after all, the deepest division in the UFC. Furthermore, Topuria has one title win and title defense, no doubt, over the two most dominant featherweights of all time. No one is doubting his ability. He is one of, if not the most well-rounded fighter in the UFC currently. But then the lightweight division is a murderer’s row, and many in the weight class are watching ‘El Matador’ with raised eyebrows. One of them in Charles Oliveira.
According to ‘Do Bronx’, the Georgian-Spaniard will have a tough time against the reigning lightweight champion. Having shared the Octagon with the dominant Islam Makhachev, Oliveira knows firsthand what it takes to fight him. And according to ‘Do Bronx’, Topuria’s bold aspirations might be misplaced. According to KOImenero, here’s what the former Brazilian champion said, “I don’t think that when someone changes weight divisions they deserve to fight directly for the title of the other division.”
Ilia Topuria has repeatedly stated that he sees himself as a two-division champion in the near future. However, Charles Oliveira—who was submitted by Makhachev at UFC 280—believes that the featherweight king is underestimating the challenge.
MMA: UFC Fight Night-Herbert vs Topuria, Mar 19, 2022 London, UK Ilia Topuria blue gloves defeats Jai Herbert red gloves during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports, 19.03.2022 21:33:51, 17930803, UFC Fight Night, MMA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xPerxHaljestamx 17930803
“Islam is not just another fighter. He controls the fight, he controls the grappling, and he controls everything inside the cage,” Oliveira pointed out. “It’s not as easy as saying, ‘I’ll just stand and strike.’ You have to be prepared for everything.”, the former lightweight champion said about the current champ.
‘El Matador’ may be undefeated, but he hasn’t faced an elite wrestler like Makhachev. Even Alexander Volkanovski, widely regarded for his fight IQ and durability, struggled in both of his fights against the Dagestani champion. If someone with Volkanovski’s experience couldn’t find the answer, Oliveira believes Topuria may be in for a rude awakening.
Charles Oliveira’s reality check to Ilia Topuria – “This division is different”
While the Georgian-Spaniard has been confident about making an immediate impact, Oliveira was quick to point out that lightweight isn’t just about skill—it’s about surviving against killers in every fight. “I respect what he’s done at featherweight, but this is lightweight,” ‘Do Bronx’ said. “You don’t just walk in and start calling shots. You have to prove yourself first.”
This is a lesson that several fighters have learned the hard way. Max Holloway struggled at lightweight when he lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 236, and even Volkanovski who reigned at featherweight for years found himself dominated by Makhachev.
Despite Oliveira’s skepticism, history shows that the UFC is willing to fast-track certain fighters. Michael Chandler made his UFC debut against Dan Hooker and was instantly given a title shot at UFC 262 after just one fight. However, Oliveira stopped Chandler with a second-round TKO, proving that hype alone doesn’t win championships.
The UFC might position Topuria in a similar way, but Oliveira’s warning still stands. Topuria’s path to lightweight success isn’t as simple as walking in and taking over. While Oliveira still has his eyes on regaining the lightweight title, a future clash with Topuria isn’t out of the question. However, if Topuria truly wants to challenge Makhachev, he may have to go through fighters like Justin Gaethje or Arman Tsarukyan first.
Either way, Oliveira’s message is clear: lightweight is not a division where champions are handed opportunities—they have to earn them. The question is—will Topuria rise to the challenge, or will he find himself humbled just like so many others before him?
The post Charles Oliveira Humbles Ilia Topuria On Islam Makhachev Fight Demands – “I Respect What He’s Done at Featherweight” appeared first on EssentiallySports.