Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria is a dream battle that many followers yearn to see, however a former UFC titleholder doesn’t see the tremendous battle being one which occurs any time quickly. Michael Bisping was discussing this on his YouTube channel within the wake of Makhachev turning into the welterweight champion at UFC 322, as Bisping mentioned,
“Ilia Topura goes to return out and say that as a result of he desires that battle. May you think about if Ilia Topuria was afforded the flexibility to go up and turn out to be a three-weight division champion? Once more, I say it on a regular basis, nobody’s ever finished that. I don’t suppose that’s what’s going to occur right here simply but. I believe Ilia’s going to defend.”
We don’t know who it’s going to be, may very well be Arman Tsarukyan as a result of he’s combating [Dan Hooker] subsequent week in Qatar. It may very well be Paddy [Pimblett], it may very well be Justin Gaethje, however he’s going to battle a kind of. He’s [Ilia’s] in all probability gonna defend a few extra instances as nicely earlier than he even thinks about going as much as welterweight.”
Islam Makhachev’s queue of contenders at 170 kilos, per Bisping
With the stacked cluster of contenders at 170 kilos, newly minted kingpin Islam Makhachev may even have a dearth of hungry, divisionally related contenders to first take care of earlier than an Ilia Topuria cross-divisional bout, as Bisping continued,
“Then whenever you have a look at welterweight, I imply, what will occur there? As a result of the welterweight division is ridiculous proper now. In fact, Michael Morales has a declare to combating for the belt as a result of he’s 19-0, he’s undefeated, and simply knocked out Sean Brady. You’ve acquired Carlos Prates that simply sparked out former champion Leon Edwards in devastating trend. Did one thing that nobody’s ever finished to Leon Edwards. So he’s got a shot.”
You’ve additionally acquired Shavkat Rakhmonov that was the primary contender however then he acquired injured. You’ve acquired Belal Muhammad going up in opposition to Ian Garry. Ian Garry’s making a number of noise saying that he desires to battle for the belt as nicely. Then after all afterall that, you’ve acquired Kamaru Usman, ‘the Nigerian Nightmare.’ So there isn’t a scarcity of opponents [in the welterweight division]. Oh and also you’ve additionally acquired Joaquin Buckley.”
