Khabib Nurmagomedov Questions Ilia Topuria's Lightweight Title Shot

Ilia Topuria's decision to move up to lightweight after vacating his featherweight title has sparked a debate in the MMA community regarding his readiness for a title shot against champion Islam Makhachev. Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev's mentor, suggests Topuria should first fight a top contender like Charles Oliveira or Dustin Poirier to earn his shot, emphasizing the importance of merit in the sport. UFC veteran Daniel Cormier has expressed skepticism about Topuria's move, citing size disadvantages against larger lightweights. Topuria's camp, however, argues that his recent victories over notable fighters like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway justify his pursuit of a lightweight title fight. Javier Mendez, Makhachev's coach, acknowledged the entertainment aspect of the UFC but also emphasized that Topuria should face a top-ranked lightweight first. The ongoing discussions reflect the tension between competitive fairness and commercial interests in the sport.