Ilia Topuria thriving in 'new world' ahead of UFC 317, sees massive fight on other side
LAS VEGAS – Ilia Topuria was a man of few words during Wednesday's UFC 317 media day at the UFC Apex.
But perhaps the fighting will do the talking. That was the general theme of Topuria's answers ahead of his UFC 317 clash vs. Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
"He's going to try to walk forward. He's not going to find a way to do it," Topuria told MMA Junkie and other reporters. "I'm going to make him play my game, as I said."
One aspect of this fight Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) opened up about more than the rest was the change in weight classes, and just how fresh he feels not having to shave off an additional 10 pounds from his frame.
"It's been two different worlds, featherweight and lightweight," Topuria said. "I have been able to enjoy the whole process. Even today I feel good. When I was fighting in the featherweight division, at this point I was feeling really, really bad. So yeah, I think I made a great decision."
Topuria, 28, oozed confidence in his own abilities. He pointed to having previously competed at lightweight in the UFC, when he brutally knocked out Jai Herbert in March 2022.
Faith in his own abilities does not diminish Topuria's opinion of Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC), however.
"A hundred percent he's the best lightweight right now, if we don't count Islam (Makhachev)," Topuria said. "He's the best after him."
Beyond Oliveira, Topuria sees rival Paddy Pimblett as the potential next challenger, though thinks the Brit is one fight away from that. The bad blood between the two has cooled off in recent years, but the two nearly came to blows in a fighter hotel in 2022 following a nasty online back-and-forth.
In order for that matchup to be next, Topuria thinks the UFC and Pimblett will have to take a certain path – one that goes around UFC 317 title fight backup fighter Arman Tsarukyan.
"That fight easily could be one of the biggest in UFC history," Topuria said. "Listen, I don't usually take anything personally in this game. It's all professional. If he wants to assure his title shot, he has to fight with Justin Gaethje. Because if he fights with Arman, I think that Arman is going to beat him. The easiest path he has right now to get the title shot is Justin Gaethje stylistically."
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