Ilia Topuria moved up a weight class and was scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. But Makhachev vacated the belt and made the jump to 170 pounds in pursuit of a second championship, calling out Jack Della Maddalena. In the lead-up to their potential showdown, Topuria shared a strategy that could help Della Maddalena defend against Makhachev’s takedowns.
Fans are well aware of the Dagestani fighter’s dominant wrestling prowess. Makhachev has secured several victories by using his relentless wrestling to transition into submissions. However, Topuria, who was initially preparing to face Makhachev himself, had already devised a game plan to counter his takedowns. In a recent interview with MainEventTV, the Spanish fighter passed on his strategy to Jack Della Maddalena, saying:
“If he [Jack] works straight body shots, he is gonna stop his intentions of [Islam’s] takedown attempts. And he is doing a great job.”
The former featherweight champion also highlighted that Jack Della Maddalena is looking sharp in the striking department. Topuria expressed his admiration for JDM’s fighting style. Meanwhile, Topuria himself is gearing up for his own lightweight title fight this weekend.
Ilia Topuria Says Arman Tsarukyan Needs To Prove More Before Earning A Title Shot
Topuria is just days away from his lightweight title clash against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, but he’s already thinking about what’s next. While Arman Tsarukyan has been named the official backup for the bout, Topuria isn’t ready to grant him an immediate title shot. Tsarukyan was originally set to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 but withdrew due to a back injury and hasn’t fought since — a layoff that Topuria believes should cost him his spot in line.
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“I wouldn’t give him the chance immediately. He needs to win one more fight. He had the opportunity to fight for the title and he pulled out, so he needs to earn his shot against someone like Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett. They need to fight each other.”
Meanwhile, Pimblett has shown little interest in fighting Tsarukyan and has instead expressed a desire to face Topuria in the future. If Topuria captures the belt, potential matchups against names like Tsarukyan, Pimblett, Gaethje, and others could make for an exciting future in the lightweight division.
Also Read: Charles Oliveira Ups The Ante By Asking Ilia Topuria To ‘Respect’ Lightweight Fighters
