UFC featherweight fighter Ilia Topuria has big plans for himself after his title defence in UFC 308.
The fighter recently claimed to become the champion in three respective divisions. Topuria says this is his three-year plan, as he intends to seal his MMA legacy with this achievement. Topuria snagged the championship title after defeating Alexandre Volkanovski with a knockout in round one. He is set to face BMF champion Max Holloway, and if he succeeds in defeating his opponent, this could be a step on the ladder to his aspirations. Topuria plans on being the first three-time division UFC champion by the time he’s 30.
“Probably a three-weight world champion, this is my goal,” Topuria said. “You’re not going to see me in the welterweight division like this, skinny. You’re going to see me different. That’s the goal. Move up to the lightweight division, get that belt, then move up to the welterweight division.”
Thus far, nine different fights have titles in two UFC weight classes, with only five doing so simultaneously. No fighter has ever challenged for a title in three UFC weight classes, though recently, former UFC middleweight champion and current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira teased the possibility of moving up to heavyweight to do so. However, Topuira believes he will be the first to accomplish this.
Topuria believes he is on another level and that no fighter in any division is up to him. In an episode of UFC 308: Embedded, Topuira said he plans to make a statement by defeating Holloway.
“This is what I have been talking about during this whole process, right? No one is on my level right now, and at this time, at this point in the mixed martial arts, I feel like I evolve the game, so I’m gonna prove it once again… Max [Holloway] is not ready for what’s coming for him. He calls himself a problem solver, but I have many doubts that he’s gonna solve this problem.”
“If he stays in the middle the first 10 seconds of the fight, they’re going to see the most exciting 10 seconds in the UFC in MMA history,” Topuria promised. “It’s going to be fireworks. For sure, I’m going to do that, and it’s going to be all up to him if he wants to stay with me or not.”
UFC 308 takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this Saturday.
