Fall is simply across the nook, Terence Crawford simply punched up Canelo Alvarez, and several other massive UFC fights are set to happen over the following few months, however there’s nonetheless one main lingering query we assume might be resolved earlier than 2025 wraps:
What’s subsequent for Ilia Topuria?
“El Matador” took one step nearer to superstardom this previous June when he wanted lower than three minutes to knock out future UFC Corridor of Famer Charles Oliveira, preserve his good report, and seize a vacant light-weight title to hitch the uncommon air of two-division champions. His unimaginable featherweight run (that included KOs of legends Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway) already pushed Topuria to the highest of the MMA world, to the purpose that he was being feted at Actual Madrid’s famed Bernabéu Stadium.
We’ve heard loads of discuss from and about Topuria since his UFC 317 triumph, however we’re but to search out out when he’s truly going to battle once more and with every passing day it looks like he’s falling that a lot farther from mainstream relevance regardless of his unimaginable accomplishments. There is no such thing as a scarcity of potential opponents, so Alexander Okay. Lee and Jed Meshew obtained collectively to determine who may (or ought to) be subsequent for Topuria, with considered one of us specializing in how sizzling every matchup is and the opposite gauging it’s absurdity.
Lee: We lately handed the eight-year anniversary of Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor and it looks like we’re about due one other does of that nonsense, doesn’t it?
No, Terence Crawford and Ilia Topuria have nowhere close to the extent of mainstream cachet as that notorious duo, and the panorama of fight sports activities has modified a lot since that battle that boxing champion vs. MMA champion doesn’t have the novelty it as soon as did, however there are sufficient parallels right here to generate some official crossover buzz.
Crawford is the undefeated boxing legend coming off of a win in a dream matchup with Canelo Alvarez, similar to Mayweather after beating Manny Pacquiao (and, uh… Andre Berto). Topuria is the two-division UFC champion with explosive knockout energy, similar to McGregor. In case you squint, you’ll be able to actually see the resemblance!
This potential matchup has been amplified by public feedback from each fighters prior to now few months and you’ll image the gears in UFC CEO Dana White and his buddy Turki Alalshikh’s heads churning on the considered making one other industry-shaking splash. Despite the fact that Crawford vs. Topuria gained’t transfer the needle almost as a lot because it ought to given their accomplishments, there isn’t a lot standing in the way in which of this one taking place (aside from a mountain of money for the athletes).
I hate every thing about this.
And I hate that someway I’ve to speak about it.
Look, I perceive why Topuria needs to do that: he needs to receives a commission. The truth of MMA is that the objective is to not be a UFC champion, the objective is to get to a UFC title so you’ll be able to parlay it right into a boxing battle and make actual cash. That’s not his fault, but it surely sucks nonetheless. And on the opposite aspect of this, Crawford is treating this as fully absurd, which it’s. However why any fan would care about that is past me.
We’ve carried out this experiment sufficient. The end result isn’t in query. Topuria stands the very same probability towards Crawford as I’d: none in anyway. That’s not me saying I can field, that’s me mentioning how hopeless it’s. Topuria may no extra outbox Crawford than he may fistfight a rhino.
If Topuria may even be aggressive with Crawford in boxing, then he can be boxing. As a substitute, he’s in MMA. And it could actually be tremendous cool if he would truly concentrate on defending a title repeatedly as a substitute of the varied flights of fancy he retains pursuing. We already had one Conor McGregor. We don’t want one other.
This is able to be the stupidest factor to occur in fight sports activities in a decade, and Combat Circus has held a half-dozen occasions. Please let’s cease taking it severely.
Lee: Give the individuals what they need!
I’ve been the Paddy Pimblett predictor for ages, calling for each the Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler fights nicely earlier than they have been on anybody else’s radar, and I additionally mentioned all alongside that crazier issues have occurred than guys like Pimblett receiving UFC title photographs. Effectively, it’s time.
You’ll be able to nitpick Pimblett’s résumé and the latest résumés of his veteran opponents all you need, wins are wins and each time the brash Pimblett has his hand raised it drives his supporters and his haters right into a frenzy. Isn’t that what you need in a possible B-side to a championship battle?
Add in the truth that Topuria and Pimblett have a longstanding beef and this one is a no brainer. Cease combating it, Dana.
Meshew: Right here we’ve the precise reverse of silly. Effectively, perhaps not the alternative, however we’re trending in the fitting route.
Does Pimblett deserve a title shot? No. Positive, he’s on an excellent win streak, however beating three 39-year-olds in a row doesn’t scream “I’m most deserving!” However would it not be a miscarriage of justice if he obtained one? Nope! No one else has an ironclad case for a title shot, so if Pimblett finally ends up getting the decision, it’s tremendous.
And setting apart the private warmth between the 2, I’ll admit I’m very within the battle. Positive, on paper it looks as if Topuria ought to roll over Pimblett, however I’ve thought that quite a bit about Paddy and he simply retains getting higher.
On high of that — and that is the half individuals hardly ever point out — Topuria has additionally been feasting on previous guys these days. Sure, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira are a lot higher than Michael Chandler and King Inexperienced and the ghost of Tony Ferguson, however they’re nonetheless previous in battle years. This is able to be Topuria’s first battle towards somebody in his prime since Bryce Mitchell, and Pimblett is far larger. There’s some intrigue right here.
Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Lee: Look all people, it’s the No. 1 light-weight contender!
Technically, Arman Tsarukyan by no means misplaced his spot in line. Even within the UFC’s official rankings, Tsarukyan is at No. 2, behind solely former champion Islam Makhachev, who’s presently chasing welterweight glory. The matchmakers are in a bizarre spot as a result of clearly they don’t need to give Tsarukyan one other title shot straight away after January’s UFC 311 debacle, however nobody else has made an hermetic case to take his place. Additionally, I’m assured for those who did a survey asking who has one of the best probability of beating Topuria, Tsarukyan would come out on high of that ballot.
However rattling, the promotion for this battle can be lifeless on arrival if that is what’s introduced subsequent for Topuria. I’m not saying I by no means need to see it, however even Tsarukyan doesn’t assume he’s getting the following shot, which might be why he’s simply been doing aspect quests this complete time,
Meshew: If MMA have been an actual sport the place benefit carried the day, that is the matchup we’d be getting. God love Charles Oliveira, however he misplaced to Tsarukyan once they fought. Tsarukyan ought to’ve been the person Topuria needed to battle for the vacant title if not for his UFC 311 points. And whereas I can perceive there being some penalties for that, it doesn’t change the truth that the title is meant to signify being one of the best fighter on the planet in a weight class, and till Topuria beats Tsarukyan, his declare to that may have an asterisk.
That is the battle that ought to be made, although I’ve little hope it can occur.
Lee: Deserves actually ain’t obtained nothing to do with it.
Justin Gaethje has already had two photographs at undisputed gold, so we’re not even together with his interim title win again in 2020. The person is beloved and has vastly sacrificed his present and future well being for our leisure, so nobody ought to begrudge him for wanting to face pat within the hopes of 1 final title alternative. The matchmakers, although? They’re in no hurry to oblige.
“The Spotlight” turns 37 in November and he solely has so many traditional moments left to present us. It could simply really feel proper to see him throw down with Topuria earlier than it’s all mentioned and carried out and that is absolutely essentially the most entertaining matchup on our checklist. I don’t hate it.
Meshew: As a lifelong Gaethje Stan, my bias prevents me from pondering rationally about this. Rationally, Gaethje must be like, fifth in line on condition that he simply obtained blown up by Max Holloway.
The reality is, Gaethje is just on this scenario as a result of he’s the person. Gaethje appeared to have the within monitor for a title shot towards Makhachev after beating Dustin Poirier, however as a result of the UFC botched the UFC 300 card reserving so dangerous, they needed to name on him and Holloway to step in on short-ish discover and reserve it. A loss is a loss, however Gaethje has since rebounded by once more being an excellent soldier and combating Rafael Fiziev on brief discover. Rewarding essentially the most thrilling fighter of all time for doing you a few solids over the previous two years wouldn’t be the worst factor on the planet. And since Holloway already misplaced to Topuria, you’ll be able to kinda promote it.
However principally what sells this battle is the matchup. Gaethje is essentially the most thrilling fighter who has ever lived. Topuria is essentially the most electrical expertise within the sport proper now. These are the types of matchups we reside for, and never a single individual can be mad in the event that they booked this tomorrow.
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev winner
Lee: I admit it: I haven’t moved on from Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria.
Watching Topuria smack up Charles Oliveira was nice and Makhachev’s battle with Jack Della Maddalena goes to be superior, however the egocentric battle fan in me needs MORE. When you may have the No. 1 and No. 2 pound-for-pound fighters on the planet of their primes and simply 10 kilos aside, it appears foolish to not throw them within the cage. I imply, we already did this dance with Makhachev and Volkanovski, and that dominated (the primary time, anyway).
If Makhachev wins, I’m down for him to defend the welterweight title towards Topuria and even return right down to 155 kilos and reclaim the belt he by no means misplaced. And if Della Maddalena defends, we’re nonetheless in enterprise, as a result of Topuria can nonetheless chase champ-champ-champ standing and Della Maddalena may probably string collectively consecutive wins over Topuria, Makhachev, Belal Muhammad, and Gilbert Burns. That’s all-time stuff.
Meshew: I didn’t assume I might be extra offended than I used to be firstly of this, and then you definately spring this shit on me?!
If we’re being trustworthy, Topuria didn’t “deserve” an instantaneous light-weight title shot, however due to the shortage of clear-cut contenders, it was a simple transfer. It could be essentially the most clear nonsense to present Topuria a welterweight title shot when there are a minimum of 4 guys who must be combating for the belt proper now. Hell, Makhachev shouldn’t be getting this one both, however right here we’re.
As beforehand said, the aim of a title is to indicate who one of the best on the planet is. You try this not by beating one man however by beating many, over a time frame. Topuria must defend a title, any title an entire bunch as a result of that’s the measure of greatness on this sport. Cease this nonsense proper now.
Stupidity Stage: A billion. A billion stupidities.
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