- UFC. Charles Oliveira is not afraid: "If it's for the title, why not fight Topuria?"
- UFC. UFC Ilia Topuria: "If McGregor had to prepare to fight me, he would have to die and be reborn"
The arrival of Ilia Topuria (16-0) at 155 pounds has been an extra incentive for a division full of talent and big names. A fight between the Spanish-Georgian and Islam Makhachev is the desire of most UFC fans, while among the fighters in the category there is division of opinion about what 'The Legend' can bring to lightweight. The latest to speak on the subject is Mateusz Gamrot (24-3), who does not see so clearly the idea that Ilia can beat the Dagestani because of a size issue.
"Topuria is a small guy while Makhachev is a very big guy. If you want to fight Islam you have to be a big guy like him," he told MMA Junkie. These statements are in the same line as those of other fighters in the category, who have certain doubts about Topuria's performance away from featherweight. While it is true that Ilia will be at a certain disadvantage in of height, his reach is equal to or greater than some of these names who have called into question his condition.
If you want to fight Islam you have to be a big guy like him
Despite these statements, Gamrot is not a real threat to Topuria, at least in the short term. The Polish fighter is coming off a loss to Dan Hooker, so he has been relegated to the seventh position in the rankings in the category. Ilia, whose aspirations are much higher, for the moment looks in the rear-view mirror at Mateusz.
Need for victories
If he can string together a new winning streak, he could be a fighter to watch out for, as he is the last person capable of beating Arman Tsarukyan, the number one in the division. For now, what is official is that Ilia Topuria will fight for the lightweight title on June 28 in International Fight Week, against either Makhachev or Charles Oliveira.
In Gamrot's case, it is still unknown who his next opponent will be, although it seems that the UFC will match him up with someone between the top 10 and top 15 so that he can get a win that will boost him back to the top. Right now, however, the lightweight rankings do not have any easy names, and another loss could put a damper on his aspirations of being champion someday.