Ilia Topuria is open to fighting Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title in Australia, saying location is no problem as he believes he is the best in the world.
Ilia Topuria is prepared to enter enemy territory for a UFC title fight with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. At UFC Jacksonville this past Saturday, Topuria showcased a dominant performance against Josh Emmett, preserving his undefeated record and distinguishing himself as one of the most dangerous challengers in the 145-pound division. Topuria has his sights set on the title but is open to fighting Max Holloway in his adopted home country of Spain. Should the opportunity arise to fight Volkanovski on the champion’s home turf in Australia, Topuria is undeterred, stating, “No f****** problem. If I think I’m the best in the world, I can beat him in Australia, in Las Vegas, in Miami, in Spain, wherever we go, I beat him. Location is no problem.”
There’s no guarantee that Volkanovski will retain the belt when Topuria is ready to fight again, as the current champ is scheduled to defend it against interim champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 on July 8. If Volkanovski continues his reign, it’s possible he may move up to 155 pounds for a rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who narrowly defeated him at UFC 284. Topuria is weighing the option of fighting Holloway, but his primary goal is to win a UFC title. The featherweight challenger stated, “Right now, I’m really focused on getting that championship belt. I want to get that title fight, which I know that I deserve.”
Fighting Holloway in Spain might solidify Topuria’s standing as the No. 1 contender at 145 pounds, but he’s unsure if beating anyone else is necessary to claim a championship opportunity. He believes he is the best option to challenge Volkanovski’s dominance in the division. “There is nothing else for me. I showed to everyone — even before this with Bryce Mitchell — in this division no one can match my level of skill inside the cage. Nobody can, no one. No one,” he said. When pressed for a prediction, Topuria expects Volkanovski to hold onto the belt at UFC 290 but does not express a preference for either fighter to win, suggesting that he is content to patiently wait for his opportunity.
“Like I said, one of the best skills I have is patience,” he expressed. “I can wait. I’m young, I’m 26 years old, I enjoy life. I’m happy with everything I have, so I can wait. I didn’t rush for anything. No problem.” He continued, “It doesn’t matter for me. I have the goal, which is to become the world champion and if I have to wait, I’ll wait my whole life. Why am I not going to wait, like six more months or something like that? I’m going to wait.”