Khabib Nurmagomedov is fine with Ilia Topuria challenging for the lightweight title.
He just has to earn it first.
Topuria, the UFC’s reigning featherweight champion, recently teased a move up to the 155-pound division before later clarifying that a decision on possibly changing decisions is yet to be made.
In a segment on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Nurmagomedov spoke to Henry Cejudo about the possibility of Topuria challenging Nurmagomedov’s close friend Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in the future.
“I think if he move up and he beat somebody like Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira, he’s next one then, why not?” Nurmagomedov said. “Because there is nobody.”
Makhachev has recorded three defenses of the lightweight title since winning it by defeating Oliveira at UFC 280 in October 2022. He’s riding a 14-fight win streak. His most recent defense saw him submit Dustin Poirier, and he also holds a pair of championship bout wins over then-featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.
Up next for Makhachev is a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles. Should he get past Tsarukyan again, Makhachev is short of fresh No. 1 contender options, and a superfight with Topuria could fit the bill.
Topuria has expressed interest in a No. 1 contender bout with Oliveira, so he’s on the same page as Nurmagomedov. One thing Nurmagomedov doesn’t want to see is Topuria simply jump to the front of the line.
“Without fighting at 155, no, I don’t agree,” Nurmagomedov said. “Islam already gave chance [to a featherweight champion], people talk bad about he fights two times with Volkanovski, but UFC push this fight. This fight was good in first fight, but why Islam have to give three times chance for 145-pound champion? Why? It’s not fair for 155 pounds.
“But if [Topuria] move up and he beat somebody like Charles Oliveira? Of course. And you know what I think? I think he can beat him.”
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