Off the again of his spectacular win tonight, Islam Makhachev might have already got his subsequent challenger post-UFC 311 mapped out, with Ilia Topuria boldly claiming he may make a climb from featherweight and KO the champion merely if he wished to.
Remaining on tonight’s UFC 311 card, Makhachev was met within the Octagon by short-notice substitute, Renato Moicano on only a day’s discover — who drafted instead of an injury-stricken, Arman Tsarukyan, who suffered a again damage throughout his weight reduce.
And making extremely short-work of the Brasilia challenger, Makhachev managed to land a dominant first spherical D’Arce choke submission win over the quantity ten ranked, Moicano.
Along with his fourth consecutive title protection, pound-for-pound primary, Makhachev surpassed each prior light-weight kingpin earlier than him for many successive profitable defenses at 155lbs.
Ilia Topuria gives quick tremendous combat to Islam Makhachev after UFC 311
Nonetheless, providing matchmakers the possibility to put out his subsequent probability fairly than name his personal pictures, Makhachev has been supplied a brilliant combat by undisputed featherweight champion, Topuria — who boldly claimed he may knock out the Russian in the event that they squared off subsequent.
“Islam, if I want to, I can finish you,” Ilia Topuria posted on his official X account following Islam Makhachev’s submission win at UFC 311. “If I want to, I can knock you out. I’ll make it look easy. See you soon.”
Islam, if I need to, I can end you.if I need to, I can knock you out. I am going to make it look straightforward. Se you quickly 😉
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) January 19, 2025
Himself sidelined since final October, unbeaten featherweight kingpin, Topuria most lately grew to become the primary fighter in blended martial arts at hand former champion, Max Holloway a knockout loss in his whole profession — flattening the Hawaiian with a shocking stoppage win at UFC 308.
