Demetrious Johnson anticipates a challenging path for Ilia Topuria as he transitions to the lightweight division.
Topuria, the current UFC featherweight champion, intends to move up to 155 pounds and has expressed his desire to fight lightweight champion Islam Makhachev immediately. While Topuria claims to have been promised a title shot, the UFC has not officially announced plans for either fighter`s next bout.
In a recent interview, Johnson shared his perspective on the lightweight title landscape. He suggested that Makhachev might first explore a potential title fight in the welterweight division, especially depending on the outcome of the upcoming match between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. Johnson believes if Della Maddalena wins, Makhachev could pursue a second title.
Johnson proposes that instead of an immediate title shot for Topuria, a fight against Arman Tsarukyan would be more appropriate. He reasons that Tsarukyan was previously in line for a title shot before an injury and that a bout between Tsarukyan and Topuria would serve as a crucial test for Topuria in the lightweight division. Johnson also mentions other contenders in the lightweight division like Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Max Holloway, highlighting the depth of the weight class.
Johnson acknowledges Topuria`s knockout power, evidenced by his victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. However, when considering a potential matchup with Makhachev, Johnson points to Makhachev`s proven grappling skills and submission victories against high-level jiu-jitsu practitioners. While recognizing Topuria`s wrestling background, Johnson suggests that Topuria`s primary approach is striking and it remains to be seen if he would deviate from this strategy against Makhachev.
