SUMMARY
- At UFC 298, Ilia Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski and won the Featherweight Championship.
- In an interview, Sean O'Malley talked about Ilia Topuria's next fight.
On February 17, 2024, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, Ilia Topuria proved to the world that he was a man of his word. Ilia ‘El Matador’ Topuria defeated Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski to become the new UFC Featherweight Champion of the world. The Spaniard knocked out the greatest featherweight to fight in the UFC to clinch his maiden championship title.
In the second round of the fight, a quick and clean combo from the 27-year-old backed Volkanovski into a corner. Topuria then unleashed a deadly right hook that connected flush to the Australian’s chin. The impact of this strike is what made the former champion slump to the ground and made Ilia Topuria the champion of the featherweight division in just his 7th UFC fight.
Ilia Topuria made his UFC debut as a replacement for a South Korean fighter on short notice in October 2020. But that did not stop him from winning the fight, as he won via unanimous decision in his debut. This was only the second time in his professional MMA career that the fight went to a decision. His 15-0-0 professional record in MMA includes 13 finishes, of which 5 are extraordinary KO’s.
Many will say you can’t do it. They will knock you down and doubt you. But remember, the only one you need to achieve anything is yourself. Trust in yourself, have faith, and work tirelessly because everything will come. It doesn’t matter where you come from if you know where you… pic.twitter.com/5KchM88w8m
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) February 20, 2024
Ilia Topuria was born to Georgian parents in Germany and brought up in Georgia until the age of 15. After which, he moved to Spain, where he now resides in Alicante. By winning the featherweight title at UFC 298, Ilia Topuria became the first-ever fighter from Georgia and Spain to win a UFC championship.
All in all, his performance against Volkanovski was one for the history books, and it has got his fans talking. Many have started speculating on the possibility of Topuria attaining the status of 3-division champion. So let’s delve into it to understand if it could materialize in the future.
Sean O’Malley has already shown his interest in fighting Ilia Topuria
UFC’s current Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley has expressed his desire to take on the newly crowned Featherweight Champion. Even before the UFC 298 main event took place, ‘Suga’ Sean had predicted Volkanovski would get knocked out by Ilia Topuria on his Instagram. The reason behind his prediction was that he wanted to take on El Matador up next after his bout with Chito Vera.
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Surprisingly enough, that is exactly what transpired, as Topuria managed to knock out the Australian and become the champion. Since then, Sean O’Malley has been featured on The MMA Hour and spoke about who he wants his next fight to be. O’Malley is currently scheduled to face Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera on March 9, 2024, at UFC 299. This will be Suga’s first-ever bantamweight title defense in the octagon.
According to the Bantamweight Champ, Merab is a “very beatable” opponent. He feels that Ilia knocking out the GOAT featherweight (Volkanovski) while he knocks out the GOAT bantamweight (Aljamain Sterling) could possibly line them up for a champ vs. champ showdown. O’Malley further believes that Ilia is a scary opponent.
He said that Topuria gives him the feeling that “he could put your f*cking lights out and change your life.” A fight against Sean O’Malley in the bantamweight division could well be Topuria’s ticket to ascendency to the title of two-division champion. It is important to note that this won’t be El Matador’s first fight in the bantamweight division.
The German-born fighter previously faced two opponents in this weight class back in 2018, where he won both fights via submission. He fought in the Cage Warriors 94 event and for the vacant Cage Warriors Bantamweight Championship, which he won but was later stripped of due to not making weight.
“El Matador” already has a KO win in the lightweight division
With a 7-0 record in the UFC, Ilia Topuria is on track to becoming a UFC great by the time he hangs up his boots. While six of his seven wins have come in the featherweight division, people tend to forget that the Spaniard has previously also fought in the UFC lightweight division. Not only has he fought in that division, but he showed shades of his greatness by knocking out his opponent clean.
With a quick combination of a right to the head followed by a body shot, Topuria loaded up his right and caught Jai Herbert’s chin in the second round of the fight. The knockout power of Topuria was on full display as Herbert slumped to the ground. This fight, much like his fight against Alexander Volkanovski, started with his opponent having the upper hand.
Still, Ilia Topuria managed to turn the fight on its head with his witty combinations and his ability to bounce back. This just goes to show that not only can Topuria hold his own outside of his weight class but also can impose dominance through sheer will and tenacity.
No one can predict if and when Topuria decides to enter the lightweight division. But one thing is for sure: may it be any weight, 135 lbs, 145 lbs, or 155 lbs, “El Matador” is certainly no pushover. He is a force to be reckoned with for anyone who is brave enough to step into the ring with him.
Ilia Topuria is ready for some fresh faces in the UFC’s featherweight division
With his win at UFC 298 clinching him the UFC featherweight title, Ilia Topuria won’t be short of challengers. In fact, UFC #5 featherweight Movsar Evloev has already fired his shot. Calling out Topuria instantly after the featherweight belt changed ownership. Furthermore, the Spaniard also called out Conor McGregor in his Octagon interview.
My congratulations to the new champion. I’m coming for you and taking that belt from you #ufc298
— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) February 18, 2024
Moreover, Alexander Volkanovski has been intent on getting a rematch against Ilia Topuria. Topuria has already conceded that Volkanovski will get a rematch, but it’s not known exactly when. It surely seems that before turning his attention to other weight classes, Ilia has a massive clean-up job at hand. To secure his rightful ownership of the featherweight title, he must secure wins over a few tough contenders.
Movsar Evloev and Alexander Volkanovski are just two of those who will be out for the featherweight title. A matchup against Max Holloway, whom Topuria hasn’t fought yet, could well be on the cards as well. It will surely prove to be a pure, striking wonderfest whenever it does happen. For fans, it will be a treat to watch Ilia prove his case as a worthy Featherweight Champion.
Apart from being a great striker with flawless technique, he is also a champion grappler. As is evident by his 7 straight submission victories in the first 7 professional MMA fights of his career. There’s no reason why the 27-year-old fighter cannot do things that haven’t been done before. Things like becoming the UFC’s first-ever triple-division champion.