Topuria (16-zero MMA, 8-zero UFC) vacated his UFC featherweight belt after admitting that the load reduce turned into too strenuous on him. “El Matador” is eyeing a name combat in opposition to light-weight champion Islam Makhachev.
Despite simplest protecting his name as soon as with a knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308, Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC) doesn’t see all people else withinside the light-weight name photograph as extra worth on the moment.
“You can’t in reality disagree with it,” Dariush instructed MMA Junkie. “Because he have become champion, he defended his belt, and he’s simply like, ‘Hey, I’m too big. I don’t need to make this weight reduce anymore, so I need to combat ’55.’ I wouldn’t be in opposition to him combating for 155, mainly because the UFC stated they’re now no longer going to permit Arman (Tsarukyan) to have his combat for the name.
“So, if Arman’s now no longer getting the identify shot, Charles Oliveira – I apprehend he’s imagined to be the No. 1 contender, however I might say Ilia’s credentials are higher at this moment. He’s driving pretty the win streak so, I clearly wouldn’t be like, ‘Oh, that is a mistake. They shouldn’t have this combat.’”
Dariush can see wherein Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) is coming from while he says he doesn’t need to combat every other featherweight in Topuria, however says this time it’s a touch different.
“I assume the state of affairs is this, I don’t assume Makhachev clearly desires to combat every other ’45’er,” Dariush continued. “He fought (Alexander) Volkanovski due to the fact he desired to be pound-for-pound champion due to the fact at that time, Volkanovski was. He beat Volkanovski so he’s type of over that I might say.
“He doesn’t really need to combat every other 145’er. But, the distinction now’s Ilia is transferring up and he’s an actual ’55’er. He’s now no longer going backtrack to 145. All it calls for is for Makhachev
