UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) has just pulled off one of the all-time great calendar years in UFC history. “El Matador” ended Alexander Volkanovski’s long championship reign at UFC 298 back in February, when he knocked the Australian out to claim the featherweight title.
Not satisfied with the destruction of one UFC legend, Topuria successfully defended his belt when he became the first fighter to knock out former champion Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October.
There had been speculation about who might be next in line to challenge Topuria for the featherweight title, but the Georgian surprised everyone by announcing his plans to move up to 155 lbs during a recent El Partidazo de COPE interview.