Media Ilia Topuria: Alexander Volkanovski wants 'easier fight' with Islam Makhachev rematch after UFC 290

[KazDibiase]

LAS VEGAS – Ilia Topuria thinks Alexander Volkanovski wants to move back to lightweight after UFC 290 because he sees Islam Makhachev as a more winnable matchup.

Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) punched his ticket to top featherweight contender status with a UFC on ABC 5 main event win over Josh Emmett this path month. He eagerly awaits the outcome of Saturday’s championship bout between Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and Yair Rodriguez (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), which takes place at T-Mobile Arena and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

Whether Topuria will actually get the winner remains to be seen. Volkanovski is keen to avenge what’s currently his only octagon defeat against Makhachev from UFC 284 in February, and said he thinks he’ll get the opportunity with a successful title defense against Rodriguez.


Topuria questions the true motivation by the potential move back up, and he thinks it’s because Volkanovski wants to avoid him.

“He’s looking for a rematch with Islam,” Topuria told MMA Junkie at UFC X Radio. “He wants to go up to 155 because he’s running from the real danger. He knows where the real danger is, and it’s me in 145. He’s looking for an easy way. He wants to move up to 155.

“Without any doubt (he thinks it’s the easier fight). He was already with him in the cage. He did nothing to him. They went to the decision, like a normal fight. He want to go back. Of course.”

If Topuria does get his wish for a fight with Volkanovski (or Rodriguez if he emerges victorious), he thinks there’s potential for a gigantic fight.


An undefeated contender against one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport would be an easy sell for MMA fans, and Topuria thinks there’s serious selling potential.

“It could be huge,” Topuria said. “It really could be huge. We’ll see how the UFC, how they’re going to promote the fight. It could be huge.”

https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023...+RSS&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

Are Topuria and Tsarukyan two different people?

 

[svmr_db]

I'm sure people will flip out over the headline but Makhachev is an opponent Volk has already fought before and Volk has a built in excuse for losing, don't lose your shit too much overthinking it lol.

Topuria is just a confident guy, this is what he's supposed to think after all. A bit of delusion is normal in the fight game.

 

[Guy LeDouche]

Didn’t Volk say he wanted Ilia to wait and not take a fight because he wanted to specifically fight him after Yair?

 

[Davidjacksonjones]

Are Topuria and Tsarukyan two different people?

Yes, they are twin brothers but they are actually not related at all, and don't come from the same parents

 

[Van Daz]

Are Topuria and Tsarukyan two different people?

They're.....

 

[Adamant__]

Lol Volk was saying don't feed him to the top guys because he's gonna get his ass whooped. Most of us think that, too (would favor Max to beat him for example). He clearly understands the sport better than us and he isn't known for bluffing. I'm starting to think Topuria is gonna be light work for Volk if Volk can stay in his top form. Listening to Topuria now, I like his confidence but he sounds delusional in some parts.

And tbf, would love to see Volk fight Islam again if he beats Yair. Already one of the greatest FWs of all time if not the greatest. Double champ is more special than Topuria.

 

[Johnny_Knuckles]

Lol Volk was saying don't feed him to the top guys because he's gonna get his ass whooped. Most of us think that, too (would favor Max to beat him for example).

Tbf the majority of the fighters that you've had as your av have gone on to lose their next fight

 

[Adamant__]

Tbf the majority of the fighters that you've had as your av have gone on to lose their next fight

Sadly. Volkanovski losing would be horrible, he's my favorite fighter. I'm really praying he gets it done.

 

[Jinx_AA]

Tuporia would beat yair in my opinion - if Volk wins he deserves a shot at least ?

no other obvious options ?

 

[Darius0995]

Not too interested in what Volk says, Topuria has a composed, well-executed offensive strategy and now looks to have improved his defensive capabilities. He’s a tough fight for anyone in that division.

 

[Adamant__]

Tuporia would beat yair in my opinion - if Volk wins he deserves a shot at least ?

no other obvious options ?

Rewatched the Emmett fight yesterday. Was favoring Topuria to beat Yair but his stand up really isn't that special. Emmett was overranked and clearly past his prime at this point, he couldn't test Topuria properly on the feet. If Yair's grappling defense holds up, I think he beats tf out of Topuria on the feet.

 

[xhaydenx]

Didn’t Volk say he wanted Ilia to wait and not take a fight because he wanted to specifically fight him after Yair?

Sure, but he did also say he might go after the Islam rematch at one point. He also talked about maybe calling out the BMF champ or some crap.

He'll take those options over Topuria if he can get away with it. He knows what Topuria will do to him if they fight. Volk's little pitter patter point fighting stuff will just end with Topuria KOing him stiff.

 

[Adamant__]

He'll take those options over Topuria if he can get away with it. He knows what Topuria will do to him if they fight. Volk's little pitter patter point fighting stuff will just end with Topuria KOing him stiff.

<45><45>good lord man. His only good win is a 38 yr old Emmett (who is a one trick pony and was overranked and lost to Ige and Kattar, too) and never got tested. But he is the one to KO fucking Volk stiff. Jesus Christ. People overrating tf out of him already.

 

[xhaydenx]

<45><45>good lord man. His only good win is a 38 yr old Emmett (who is a one trick pony and was overranked and lost to Ige and Kattar, too) and never got tested. But he is the one to KO fucking Volk stiff. Jesus Christ. People overrating tf out of him already.

Lol. I'm just a big fan, and I really do think Topuria will be too much for Volk.

I'm not even that sure Volk survives the first two rounds against Yair and doesn't eat a head kick and get finished.

Big fan of Volk too though. As an aussie, it's hard not to be lol.

 

[Adamant__]

I'm not even that sure Volk survives the first two rounds against Yair and doesn't eat a head kick and get finished.

My worst nightmare. Thankfully Volk's fight IQ is through the roof, he's gonna deal with Yair. This is the worst part about the sport, I get so nervous when my favorite fighter is fighting lol. Volk's reign can't end like this man. Please no.

 

[xhaydenx]

My worst nightmare. Thankfully Volk's fight IQ is through the roof, he's gonna deal with Yair. This is the worst part about the sport, I get so nervous when my favorite fighter is fighting lol. Volk's reign can't end like this man. Please no.

I always think Volk is gonna get caught and finished lol. Every single fight. Even the Zombie one.

I don't know what it is about Volk. There's something about the way he reacts to getting touched. A lot of fighters you don't notice anything, but he makes big moves to get out of there. He's just being safe, but it always makes it seem like he felt whatever hit him worse than he probably did.

You sound like my brother who gets nervous when Volk fights. Dude can barely watch his fights he's such a wreck. Gets nervous and heart starts racing weeks out of a Volk fight just thinking about it hahahaha.

 

[NoSmilez]

I don't think Ilia can beat Max.

I am not sold on Yair either. He had two fights in the last two years? He beat Ortega off an injury and has a win over Josh Emett for the title. Josh was a prelim or fight night type of fighter that got his title shot with a win over Calvin Kattar. Both of these guys didn't really fight the mainstay big named contenders of the division. Yair does have a win over Zombie but he was steadily losing that fight until he got the last second knockout. It's hard for me to assess how really good Yair is because he doesn't fight that much. I read some of the comments about how he turned Max into a panic wrestler. That wasn't the case at all.

 

[Harlekin]

Topuria will get better, which is scary.
Volk is already slowing down. Soon 35 at 5'6.
How many 5'6 fighters are there, that were still champ at 35?

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Well that seems untrue on multiple levels