Ilia Topuria is preparing for his upcoming lightweight title fight against Charles Oliveira while already thinking about potential future opponents. The Spanish-Georgian fighter will face the former champion on June 28 for the vacant 155-pound belt, and his confidence appears unwavering.
"The training camp is going super well. I've brought in sparring partners from different parts of the world. I'm going to collect what I've earned with my work," Topuria stated during the WOW 20 press conference.
The 28-year-old fighter, who currently holds the featherweight title, is looking to become a two-division champion. Initially, Topuria was expected to face Islam Makhachev, but the matchup changed when Makhachev decided to move up in weight class himself.
When asked about potential future opponents like Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett, Topuria dismissed any concerns about who he might face next.
"I have no idea honestly (if Arman or Paddy will be my hypothetical first title defense). I'll be there on June 28. Initially it was going to be Islam Makhachev, then Charles Oliveira, if Charles fell out it would be Arman Tsarukyan, but it doesn't matter... The result would be the same, I'll dance with all of them," declared the confident fighter.
Interestingly, Topuria's ambitions might not stop at the lightweight division. There's speculation that he could potentially move up to welterweight in the future, provided the current champion agrees to the matchup. This would give him a chance to become a champion in three different weight classes.
The lightweight division currently hosts several contenders waiting for their championship opportunity, but "El Matador" seems unfazed by any challenges. Can he first overcome Oliveira before pursuing these lofty goals?
