Ilia Topuria says he wants to move up to 155 & talks being in his brother's corner | ESPN MMA
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Illia Topuria fields questions backstage after his brother, Aleksandre Topuria, gets a win in his UFC debut at #UFC312.
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Ilia's english is impressive, this is probably his third or fourth language.
second, he lived in 2 countries, that comes naturally... knowing 5 languages myself, its the languages that people dont speak around you, that takes effort
@@SubhrajitMalakarDot he said that he could speak german, spanish,, russian, georgian, and english
es su tercer idioma, habla georgiano y español a nivel nativo e inglés cada vez mejor, alemán y ruso solo lo entiende un poco
@@ალექსანდრეოთხოზორია also Megrelian
@@ალექსანდრეოთხოზორიაhe cant speak German, I checked his German
Illia & Volk on a cooking date, we're witnessing legendary moments 😂
I like Ilia when he's like this and not trying to be too much. He's a cool dude, if he just expressed himself like this all the time, less people would hate on him.
hate = views and $$$ though
Also ess people would know him
I thought my headphones were not working right😂
same, my god, talk about professionals
Same
I still Can't believe we just let off the fact that there was a UFC Fighter Named Colby thicknesse
Not only Colby, Not noly Thicknesse, But combined
beyond me
🤣🤣
What's so crazy about that
He's the man
For those who say he doesn’t deserve a title shot at 155. Really? KOed two of the greatest FW figthers in the UFC back to back in the same year! Are you guys crazy? Topuria and Makhachev are on their peak performance right now, how much you want to wait to see that fight happening? it is now or never and the UFC knows that. This is the fight everyone wants to watch this year
Way past thier prime those two where .
By that logic if Islam fights Kamaru or something will he become so great like Topuria.
crazy
Because he has great potential to KO Islam and his fans are scared to see it happen. Ilia has already cleared 145 he only needs to fight Diego Lopes or Movsar Evloev. If Volk can drop Islam Ilia will retire him.
@@getleansipmoney Islam broke volks chin he can break Topurias too.
💯
He has 1 title defense ..
Y’all in the comments are really stupid for not wanting to see Ilia vs Islam. That would be one the best fights in ufc history, both in their prime and how is Islam gonna move up if Belal is champ and both said they won’t fight each other. Also Belal vs Shavkat hasn’t even been announced
And after his last fight Shavkat probably won’t even be able to beat Belal if he’s struggling with Ian Garry lol
Are you not straight in the head
You're stupid for not caring about integrity of sports.
@@M3Lucky all of a sudden integrity matters when it’s been the same thing for the last decade at least . If it matters that much to you that means you’re a bit restarted for watching for this long and wishing it be different .
@@Manuel_Chinaski did u report my reply 💀 softie
Illia is a nice guy.
This guy is one of the most talented martial artist that we’ve seen in the sport. I’m reading the comments and there are a lot of people still sleeping on him.
I know bro was stressing for his bro
It amazes me how some “UFC fans” don’t want to see the BEST fight you can actually make in terms of pure skill inside the UFC, because Ilia “needs to clear” the division first. Dude, Islam has clearly no contender to beat in the 155 division (unless Dana decides to give Arman the chance; Oliveira lost to the contender and his only recent win was a decision against freaking Chandler FFS). Ilia has already beat the guy who had the title chance (and that is also the FW goat) in Volkanovski, and beat a guy who beat a LW Contender (Gaehtje) and that is also a FW Goat in Holloway.
Just make the fight. If Islam wins, Ilia comes back to the 145 division, which by that time it probably have already moved a little so we will have a clear title contender, and if Ilia wins it means that having Ilia fighting at 145 was just a waste of time
But seriously people, if you really call yourself an UFC and a MMA fight, WE NEED this fight to happen before Islam either retires or leave to 170
Why doesn't Ilia fight Arman for no. 1 contenders fight? Ilia fought 3 months ago, is he gonna sit out another 6-8 months waiting for Islam who just fought? He'd be out for almost an entire year at that point. Arman is also looking to turn around asap. Islam can then fight the winner late summer/early fall.
This solves so many problems.
Ilia vs Islam in theory is a great fight but they aren't fighting on even terms which is kind of a turn off for me. Volk vs Islam 1 proved that, the lighter guy can lose on the judges scorecards but still be deemed the 'better' fighter due to the perceived weight difference. It took Islam knocking out Volk out in rd 1 to overtake him in the p4p rankings.
Also, if Shavkat beats Belal, Islam can go up and you'll never see this fight. On the other hand, if Ilia does in fact beat Arman, Islam would now have an obligation to fight him no matter what. If Arman wins, Arman vs Islam 2 will become 10X more anticipated. It's a win win all around.
@@Chop-in4bf I actually do like your idea, but there are some issues. First of all, if we assume that Arman really did got injured, the Arman vs Ilia fight won’t be happening for a long period of time, so Islam will have to wait quite some time, at the same time that Ilia womt have too much recovery time after the Arman fight.
Also, even if we could have that Ilia vs Arman fight in 2 months (something that I don’t think it would happen), that would still leave Islam waiting for too long and Ilia having just few time to recover.
But in terms of the MMA as a sport, it would be an AMAZING fight. Two guys that have the same height, one with probably better wrestling and kicking skills while the other with great pressure boxing. It would be like Ilia vs Volk on steroids
@ Arman is actually ready to fight asap. Been on multiple podcasts/interviews saying he is ready to go. Looks like UFC is trying to find him an opponent, and Dana has seemed to soften his stance on Arman.
spot on.
@@Chop-in4bf the problem is, Ilia would have to vacate his FW title if he fights Arman first. I don’t think Dana would want to have an Interim Champion in the FW division that also has to defend one time before Ilia comes back to 145 (which gets even worse if that Interim Champ is Volk; that would make him 37 y/o at that time). If Ilia decided to become a 155er, he will have to vacate his title, fight Arman and win, fight Islam and win, and then go back to 145 an beat the actual champ so he can become a Double Champ
he 100% deserves. no one knocked out volk and holloway (no one before him) in THE SAME YEAR. BACK TO BACK
Topuria vs Poirier, let’s have some fun
Why waste time on Dustin when he could get Islam? Dude holds a belt to a super fight is the way to go. A fight with Dustin means nothing.
Poirier would get murdered. Let him have an easier retirement fight.
@@Freeze665 he wouldn't get murdered lol, Dustin is an elite MMA striker. of course, Ilia has the ability to knock him (or anyone else) out but let's not pretend it would be easy
@@Freeze665porier has like 20 losses, stfy
Naaaah Islam, that would be an awesome fight
MMA is turning more and more into boxing. Illia got Diego, Movsar and Alex to fight before moving up unless Islam moves up to 170 next or another title defense against a lightweight because nobody giving him much credit, unfortunately. Islam is the absolute best.
The only people who don't wanna see Ilia fight Islam are Islam fans who are scared to see him KO'd. It's the highest level MMA fight ever.
@@StallionFernandoare you like ill in the head I like ilia but he can’t move up to fight Islam he has 1 defense bro he has to add defenses to his belt then fight islam
@@StallionFernandoWhat?!? Islam already beat Alex twice and didn't even get much credit. If he beats Illia next, the stupid people are just going to say that his title reign didn't have real lightweight contenders.
Do you really think Diego and Movsar can beat Ilia? Those fights are pointless lol
@@TobyMcguarro It doesn't matter of they could beat Illia or not. Movsar is literally 19-0 and Diego has a good, fun winning streak. The champion is supposed to fight contenders. Based upon your logic, neither Arman, Charles, Gaethje or anyone else at lightweight should be allowed to challenge Islam.
Bro has 1 title defense, we need to chill with this moving divisions stuff til you cleaned it out
bro knocked out 2 top 10 fighters all time back to back, He deserves to move up.
Topuria is so above everyone at 145lb, he’d only be wasting his time in that division. Move up, and fight the best at 155lbs.
@@TurkBaykal bro will get choked out by islam ..after that he will be knocked the fok out by most in 145 division.
@@TurkBaykal they were washed up already suffered their most devastating loses he need to fight someone fresh
@@TurkBaykalRetarded take, DDP finished Rob and Izzy, 2 of the best all time and he’s still facing the next in line instead of moving up, Let’s see Ilia beat Movsar and Lopes then he can move up
Let’s gooo to 155!!! Vamos
ilia!!
He needs to clear his division first and then talk about 155, only one title defence and he is bragging about it. Just clear your division man
No you must award exciting fighters he koed 2 legends back to back since you are mpt punishing boring fighters substantially...awarding exciting fighters benefits all parties in the long term..UFC,his opponents and the fans
Nah, we need to see him vs. Islam. Before Islam runs away 😆
Movsar is waiting too@@howboutdat9376
You don’t get to call out for him what to do honestly. He stated milliard times he only wants exciting fights to entertain his fans and you can’t argue with that. After koing volk and max he can’t go back to low end fights.Anyone in his decision is unworthy let alone a good hype up partner. Nothing against you man but honestly Im feeling LW fans don’t want ilia because they are dead scared what ilia will do to their favorite fighters. Ilia is really carrying UFC right now and if he envisions something UFC will align with him. Same way they did with connor and khabib. He’s calling the shots.
What are you talking about? Do you really think there's anyone at 145 who can beat him right now? He literally beat the two best of all time. His division is already clear asf 😂😂😂
Topuria and that big Brazilian dude were very impressive!
Topuria not taking fights at featherweight because he says they are boring and they need to show him something. No man you need to defend your belt a couple times, Islam doesn't owe Topuria anything.
As other champs in upper divisions do not owe anything to Islam. It will be the first title defence for Bellal why tf he should give the title shot to champ of LW division. Hypocrisy at its finest
@tanyaluchko9003 L take, you're talking about LW champ who's got one of the longest active win steaks in the UFC currently, the P4P #1, who just accepted a short fight notice last defence, who's already given 2 opportunities to other champions to his belt, has the most title defences in lightweight history
Yeah I think Islam will be given an opportunity by UFC for a 2nd belt if not him who else would be deserving?
Topuria? 😂
4 title defense. 15 fight win streak in ufc...@@tanyaluchko9003
@@foodb0i it is not about how many times you fought but who you fought! Besides Islam yet you fight the real contender in LW division, Arman!
@@foodb0i brother, I see your enemy doesn't enough brain to reply ur argumen lol
Ilia vs Islam would be so epic
Makhachev defended his title for 4 times
Ilia do it for 1 time
So who's deserving to fight fir next devision
Ilia to makhachev in lw
Or makhachev legacy dream in 170 or 185.
Answer is obvious.
Islam should move up he wants to fight Belal but I think khabib and Ali prolly don’t want to fight Belal
Islam will fight DDP and 175
Yea but one of those defenses is against Moicano lol and one of them is old man Porier on a 3-3 streak and still had a tough time . He’s not some superhuman demigod , ilia will sleep him and that makes Islam fans nervous.
Islam Makhachev's 4 recent fights : against Moikano, Poirier, Volkanovski x2
Ilia Topuria's 4 recent fights : against Holloway, Volkanovski, Emmett, Mitchell
Bro seriously? If we look at the impact of the opponents they've fought, it would be Topuria. He deserves what he wants.
Just admit you are scared of Topuria fighting over Makhachev. 😂
@@wwaasd3103Islam fans are most scared of ilia than Islam is himself😂
Ilia you are the man bro!
Ili Abturo Topturo
Honestly if he beats Movsar and Lopes, I personally do not see any other fighter beating him.
Movsar tuff, Diego is easy work for ilia styles make fights. Movsar is a grappling demon and got a chin...i would say either movsar or fight a top lightweight like arman but i know hes going for charles, arman is a nightmare.match for topuria as well
Lopez would get demolished not sure why people want to see that
@@lachlanm2115 Lopez a b class fighter he loses against ilia. Movsar can take his boxing away with the grappling. Arman beats ilia in my humble view...in LW ilia beata charles and maybe porier but not arman or islam. Thats my personal take.
@Draakooooo11 good take. Noone at FW would be favoured to beat Illia. I could see him KO'ing islam though, islam does get tagged in the face and it only takes 1 from topuria. Charles too chinny to take the shots I agree. I hope he fights islam
@@lachlanm2115 fair point, i can see him landing on islam from the clinch, islam gets a bit wild there and the height and stability of ilia can help him land some non seen overhand like he did to max...maybe movsar in FW but its a big big maybe. By the way islam is not a young fighter anymore, this young lions are dangerous...one thing i can bet my hands on is that topuria aint submiting islam, that is a big cap
I feel that Ilia wants to move up so hes brother moves up to hes current weigh class , and realy believe he's doing it for his brother mostly
Love this guy! BEST CHAMP
Great audio 👌
Illia has already cleared his division
He’s hot
Someone already started saying that Islam's career is overrated because of his opponents. Honestly, even though I'm really excited to see Islam and Ilia in the Octagon, there's no real reason or benefit for Islam to take that fight. I just hope he focuses on building his legacy from now on.
Diego Lopes vs Ilia Topuria
Let him clear his division before going to 155
I don’t get it he doesn’t seem big either his manager or rumors says he is walking around 185 pounds 🤷♂️ he doesn’t even look being 160 in this video
Of course volk means it about having food with him, he's a real genuine man and x champ
first topuria vs oliveira or topuria vs arman
His wife is still the best thing he won
People be saying anything
Stop talking about another’s man’s wife.
@@mfundimkhize3137you will do notin.
Still ilia will tko islam
@@mfundimkhize3137 true, people are waaaay too comfortable with that nowadays. Even if its "just online"...
Heres the perfect solution for champ against champ. Catch weight fight for BMF. Champ vs. Champ fights only. No title changes hands. Its more bonus, best vs. best and no double champs. Or catch weight and winner gets both belts, no BMF or no Division Title
Pls lets do Topuria vs Alex Pereira
Well i personally think that Movsar is worthy opponent and i'm sure lots of Georgians like me thinks the same that if ever Ilia's loses his belt and i hope he will not, i will be glad and proud if it will be Movsar ! Long live the pure-hearted, brave and honorable brothers of Ingushetia ! საქართველოს გაუმარჯოს ! ბიჭებო, თოფურიებო, მერაბ, გურამ, რომან, გიგა - ვამაყობთ თქვენით ! 🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪✌️❤️
BRO THIS WHOLE THING OF CHAMPS JUMPING WEIGHT CLASSES AFTER ONE DEFENCE IS STUPID ‼️
That mic not feeling you breathe shawty
bro always does conor's manners lol
Fight lopes he ducking young fighters
Ilia is younger than Lopes and Lopes is fighting Yair ..
Just stfu, he wants to fight p4p n1 fighter in the world and he ducks lopes right, delusional kiddo you are
Do you really think Diego can do anything against Ilia?lool
😂😂😂😂😂
Georgian champions👍
Topuria knocks Islam into the shadow realm by round 3. Easy fight. Ilia is the evolution of MMA
😂😂 do you really believe that
First Islam will not give chance for this small guy, because Islam wants to fight in Welterweight, but if Ilia fight in 155- Islam will choke him out in round 1 ….. Screenshot my comment.
Bahahaha get real Islam will beat his ass back to spain
@AbdifatahAbdi-e9s . Absofuckinlutely. Volk handled Islam in the first fight. Topuria is going to destroy Islam. With ease. Ilia is technically the best fighter on the planet. If you understand MMA
@@maverickat4544
😂😂😂😂 First Islam will not give chance to smaller guy as he deserves his shot at welterweight title. But if Islam to fight Ilia he will choke him out in 1st round. Now you can screenshot my comment.
¡Vamos Matador! 💪🏻❤️🇪🇸✝️🙏🏻
1:28 ❤
Feed him arman, arman will be a good representative for what 155er can do to 145er
Arman would die, tr are you talking, both are the same height, arman is weak no ko power
This is off topic, but what happened to Leon Edwards? Where did he go? Dude just vanished.
? He’s fighting JDM next month
@famoustatertot I didn't know who JDM was, so I searched him up, Leon is on a fight night now? After just one loss?
@@mmaScholar99 in his home country as the main event and JDM is one of the top contenders in the WW division
@famoustatertot OK fair enough.
You need to fix this Mic
He gotta beat Diego and movsar first don’t let him move up he gotta finish business first
I cannot deny that he is an exceptional fighter, he has amazing skills and is capable of being one of the greatest mma fighters. But he still has some challenges in his division and if he decides to go up to lightweight, imo he should have a challenge or two first in that division. Can’t challenge the pound4pound nr 1 after one title defense, especially when Islam wants to move up and has the same goal. Islam at least deserves it.
Bro is gonna be the first one to submit Islam 🌹
Great audio
I think she was clipping the mic, combo of talking slightly too loud and keeping the mic slightly too close. Not her fault, the audio production team should be having interviewers test taking loudness beforehand, or if they are recording live, reduce the gain slightly.
I hate that I’m becoming a fan of him 😂
He has clearly stated making 145 is getting almost impossible for him that’s why he wants to move up to 155 , he doesn’t want to vacate the belt though because he’s not 100% confident he can beat Islam .
Ilia's uneasy reaction and shaky voice once she mentioned Islam said everything.
He doesn't want that fight deep down.
Topuria will destroy islam, the islam fans are shitting their Pants because they know that ilia is a real danger, and his trainer the sr Méndez knows it too.
Bro focus in ur division couple title defences
ight so when izzy moved up to 205 after one title defense it was ok but when ilia tryna do it it’s a problem right🤣
Height ratiod
Islam doesn't owe Topuria anything
so, the UFC decided to:
1. ilia 155 will fight : Dustin and Charles/Arman
2. ilian 145 will fight : Alex and Movsar or Umar
and for Islam will fight DDP for sure
ISLAM VS ILIA IN SPAIN
In Dubai
This fight isn't even fair for Islam and u want it to be in Spain as well lol
nah montreal
@ what’s not fair
🌹👑🇬🇪🇬🇪🇪🇦
He needs to beat more title contenders at 145lb, he's only defended it once? If he can't make 145lb anymore he wants to move up to 155 because that? Then it needs to be vacated.
At least defend the title for couples of time...Any top three ufc lightweight will smesh him easily.
Ilia Topuria is actually bisexual. He has a boyfriend in Spain.
Good fight yes, but it really makes no sense.illia still has a lot work in his division. Diego lopez and Movsar ain’t no joke
Plz Dana let him fight for 155 belt
No.
Yes
Topuria ✊🏻
The reason most people don’t like Ilia vs Islam is because it does absolutely NOTHING for Islam’s legacy and EVERYTHING for Ilia. If he can beat Arman or Charles then we can talk about it but otherwise he needs to fight Evloev and Lopes still
Okay fight Arman is an introductory to 155
Yes, run from Movsar
2&0 Tuopuria vs VOLKS
We want to see topuria fight Islam now while it’s hot !!! 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 going to be a good fight
is that chick talking into a mike for the first time?
maybe nervous
Give him some credit. Max killed everyone he koed him. Volk was clearly way ahead of the pack and he took him out. Only thing you can say is they were older. One young guy at 145. And then go up
Lil man
Topturo ia the best.
beat Movsar, Lopes or Volk first..?
Ilia abturo top turo, bing bing bing 😂
He can talk, this man can talk!!
The guy you all thought was indestructible he knocked out, then he knocked out the guy you all thought was cool for standing there and swinging like an ass.
And he KNOCKED HIM OUT TOO.
LETS GO ILIA VS ISLAM
FIGHT WITH MOVSAR AND LOPES ARE BORING
I almost didnt recognize Heidi with her oezympic diet
Same old song. These guys get rich & they don’t want to cut weight anymore. That’s fine, but rarely do they carry their advantages up in weight (if they’re not all time great).
Topuria vs Porier
Topuria will fight Oliveira, Volkanovski or Poirier. But Islam will move up to middleweight
Bro is smaller than skyler white and yet wants to move to 155 (this is just humour no offence lol)
Im Topuria Yoo.
🏳️🌈
Evloev is the only guy who had a shot at beating Ilia. And that’s not a very great shot since Evloev has pillow hands.
@@MMAMonke Movsar has the style to beat Ilia. Movsar’s style is not to knock you out but to grind out his opponents and trust me Ilia won’t have an answer for it
UFC will keep evoloev away from Topuria for as long as they can. Like they did Ankalaev from Alex
@@Degen4life01 honestly I won’t be too mad cuz I want Movsar to build him self up and to be honest Ilia can’t run from him for too long he’ll have to face him eventually and later he does the worst it’s gonna be for him
@afgjay5384 he's like 9-0 in the ufc bro he has already built himself up lol
@@Degen4life01 True, but I’d rather him fight someone in the top five for the number 1 contender 5 round fight before fighting for the belt than him being rushed into the title shot even though I believe he should be either next or after Volk vs topturo 2
so no one beating aldos title defence
This guy fought strikers only. He fought zellal an dcoulfnt finish him or ko him. Let him fight a wrestler like movsar. If he ko him the he can fight arman tsarukyen.
Alien Tilapia is ducking Diego!
Paddy 'one topuria = cheeseburger
Two topuria = double cheeseburger 😂
1 title defense 😂
audio sucks
She’s buzzing like a bee🐝
To the first comment how can u clear the division and people are scary to fight him it want happen thats why hea moving up
He's too small for 155
The whole Dagestan population praying Ilia doesn’t move up so he doesn’t KO their prince 😂😂
Lol he got just one title defense😊