And now what? Future options for Ilya Topuria: rematch, double champion…

The future offers many paths to Ilya Topuria (16-0). And they all shine and offer very glorious options for the ‘matador’. Not immediately, of course. Ilya talked about rest, about not wanting to hear fights for a while, about focusing on the debut of her brother Alexander… And you, of course, want to fight before the summer of 2025. He does not want another summer from the camp, he would like to spend it on vacation with his family.

But, in a world where the present always seems to be the past, within moments of Holloway directing, the question was already being asked: and now… Who is Ilya Topuria going now?

The answer was found relatively quickly: Alexander volkanovsky (26-4). The GOAT is a featherweight. ‘The great one’. The Australian that ‘Matador’ snatched the belt from in Anaheim last February. “We’ll do it again, you deserve it. He made seven or more defenses. If anyone deserves it, it’s him. Let’s do it, brother, ” said Topuria From the cage, he received ‘Volk’ who was present and who hugged.

We’ll do it again, you deserve it. He made seven or more defenses. If anyone deserves it , it’s him

Ilya Topuria to volkanovsky

A few days ago, when WFC confirmed the February date for the Sydney FC, volkanovsky said that he would like to fight Topuria on such a stage. But the Spanish Georgians rejected the idea: “this will never happen. I am the champion, and if you want to fight for the title again, it should be in Madrid, and not in Australia in front of your people. Why do I give you this feature?”.

At that time the idea of Barcelona had not yet appeared publicly, he did it days later via Dana White at a press conference, but the ‘great one’ accepted, last night, the words of Topuria. He realized who was the champion and who was the rival. He gave consent to travel to Spain to try to return.

And the double title against Makhachev?

But there is another option, with all due respect to such a legend as volkanovsky, juicier: eTo face the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and be a double champion. Islam Makhachev (26-1) and his lightweight title, A category above the toporia feather. He can easily give this weight, as his team admits to Marka.

Makhachev, back in the day, in an interview with Marka before his fight with Poirier at UFC 302, positively assessed ‘Matador’ and opened the door for future fights: “Man… I don’t know why little guys want to fight with me. I would like to give him the opportunity. Volkanovsky was given the opportunity twice. Maybe for the future… Someday. Why not?”. Then, more recently, the ‘beef’ will come with the ‘Nurmagomedov clan’. The battle will be huge.

I would like to give him the opportunity. Volkanovsky was given the opportunity twice. Maybe for the future… Someday

Islam Makhachev on the brand in May

“I always try to achieve what no one else can achieve. No one can subdue him. “I will be the first to achieve this,”Topuria said at a press conference last night in front of dozens of Russian journalists. He even encountered one of them when he was reminded of Usman Nurmagomedov’s words on Twitter about street fights.

I always try to achieve what no one can. No one can subdue him. I will be the first to achieve this

Ilya Topuria about Makhachev

Meanwhile, Makhachev was more elegant than his compatriot: “Congratulations hero, it was amazing . Keep your head max, you are a legend, ” he wrote on Twitter.

Whatever your future is, ‘Matador’ still shines… And to achieve his main goal: to make his legacy greater.