Home

UFC

UFC News: Top Ranked Featherweight Explains How Alexander Volkanovski’s Loss Against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 Could Change the Division’s Scenario

Published 01/30/2024, 12:54 AM EST

Follow Us

via Imago

Ilia Topuria is about to go up against none other than Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight belt. He could be the one to take the belt away from him and really show up changing the way the division looks right now. With the belt going in different hands, new fights could evolve. And that’s exactly what some of the fighters in the division are looking for.

Ilia Topuria has brilliant wrestling skills to boast. He could certainly end Volkanovski’s featherweight win streak. And perhaps then, he’d like to take a go at the #5 ranked fighter in the division who he still has beef with since the two were scheduled to fight once but it never came through. So what does Movsar Evloev think?

Old bad blood that’s still warm for Movsar Evloev

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

In January 2022, Movsar Evloev was meant to go up against Ilia Topuria at UFC 270. In the lead-up to it all, Evloev promised Topuria that he’ll use him like a rag. In return, Topuria would berate him in press conferences as well as on his X handle.

The German-born Georgian called Evloev out by saying that he was a “dumb*ss who has no b*lls to confront” him alone. Topuria didn’t believe that Evloev was worthy of calling himself the next champion. Now, Evloev wants Volkanovski to secure a win over Topuria.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest UFC stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

However, he has dual intentions for the UFC 298 bout. While he believes that ‘The Great’ will win, Topuria taking the title home gives Evloev an “easy” fight for the title. He is implying that defeating Topuria would be ultimately easier than taking on ‘The Great’. Topuria winning could certainly change things up in the division though especially if Evloev gets the title opportunity right after. It could shake rankings up unless ‘Volk’ goes for the immediate rematch and claims the belt right back.

“I think Volk’s got this one, but after Islam’s knockout and not enough time to fully rest, Tapuri has a chance. It’s better for me if Tapuri wins; we have business to settle, and it’s the number#1 easy title fight for me.” He wrote on his X handle. Meanwhile, Topuria has his focus sharply on Alexander Volkanovski.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Ilia Topuria has come to conquer

‘El Matador’ joined the UFC after Alexander Volkanovski began his now undefeated featherweight streak. And Topuria is 14-0 in his professional career so far. Clearly, his skills speak for themselves or so to say in his own words, he isn’t here by “chance”. Topuria believes in himself and he knows that he was picked because he was able to win every fight that has been thrown his way.

Watch This Story: TW Watch: Sean Strickland Threatens To Stab Dricus Du Plessis if UFC Star Brings Up His Abusive Father in Trash Talk

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

More than anything, it seems Topuria is eager to prove himself to the MMA world. After all, his arrival in a promotion the scale of the UFC is rather new and only now is he gaining the potential to become a superstar like no other. Winning his title fight against ‘The Great’ would certainly seal the deal for him. And then, he could settle his score with Movsar Evloev too. Would you like to see the two go at it with each other?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Prit Chauhan

926Articles

One take at a time

I'm Prit Chauhan, and I'm a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. I've been in the writing business for three years, covering areas like mass media marketing, and even tried my hand at fiction. My experience includes research work at the University of California, Berkeley, which helps me spin fact-based stories about the world of Mixed Martial Arts effortlessly.
Show More>

Edited by:

Joyita Das