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- UFC. Ilia Topuria's message to Charles Oliveira: "He's going to suffer a lot with me..."
No one has ever managed to be a triple UFC champion, or in other words, to be champion in three different divisions. Not long ago, it was the name of Alex Pereira (12-3) that was most talked about for this feat... but after his defeat to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1), it is Ilia Topuria (16-0) who is being talked about. And while the 'Matador' still has to be a double champion (on June 28 he will fight Oliveira at UFC 317 to achieve it), he himself values the situation.
He actually mentioned it at UFC 308, before and after knocking out Max Holloway (26-8). It has always been an idea in the mind of the Spanish-Georgian fighter. And now, at WOW 19, this week, the subject came up again.
"If people, the fans, want to see me fight at welterweight... if there is a champion that the company has at that time, why not? I fight to entertain people, obviously I also have to be motivated by the challenge, so I do not close the doors. If the opportunity comes and there is an exciting fight, I will be there. What I hope is that the other party is willing too, and not willing to make excuses, but to back up what he talks about," said the 'Matador'.
If people, the fans, want to see me fight at welterweight...
While Ilia Topuria is not 100% blunt, and goes calmly and cautiously, he leaves the door open. His brother Aleksandre Topuria (6-1) is more direct, who speaking to Enrique Gimeno in WOW 19 made it clear what the 'ideal scenario' would be.
The perfect scenario would be for Ilia to win, for Islam to win at welterweight and then for Ilia to fight for a third belt
"The perfect scenario would be for Ilia to win, for Islam to win at welterweight and then Ilia to fight for a third belt. Historic," announced Aleksandre, who knows the 'Matador' better than anyone else.