Ilia Topuria, the former UFC Featherweight champion, has once again voiced his opinion on Islam Makhachev`s decision to vacate the lightweight title and transition to the welterweight division.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Topuria stated, “Islam appears to be mentally shaken at the moment. I believe it looks bad when you acknowledge that you exited a division due to fear. Can you envision a scenario where I would abandon the featherweight title without having defeated Max Holloway? You simply cannot disregard a top contender who has effectively cleaned out the division. The fans are clearly chanting his name, and you… What more is there to say? I`m unsure how this will influence his outcomes in the welterweight category. But that’s the reality of the situation. He is free to manage his life as he sees fit.”
It is pertinent to note that Ilia Topuria is scheduled to compete for the vacant lightweight championship against Charles Oliveira. This highly anticipated bout will serve as the main event of UFC 317, set to take place on June 28th in Las Vegas, USA.
