Ilia “El Matador” Topuria has taken the UFC world by storm this year. In February 2024, he became the featherweight champion with a brutal second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski. Then, in October 2024, he made history again by issuing Max Holloway the first knockout loss of his career. But Topuria isn’t stopping there. He has his sights set on something no one’s done before: winning championships in three weight classes—featherweight (145 lbs), lightweight (155 lbs), and welterweight (170 lbs).
Chasing a Bold Dream
Topuria’s journey to the top is the dedication, talent, belief and hard work. Undefeated so far, he’s proven himself against the best and believes he can achieve the new heights within mixed martial arts.
In his own words:
“I want to make history. My goal is to be the best fighter in the world, not just in one division, but in three.”
The Tough Road Ahead
Winning in three weight classes won’t be easy. Each division is stacked with dangerous fighters, and moving up in weight means facing bigger, stronger opponents. But Topuria’s skills, power, and versatility make him a real threat to anyone in his way.
A matchup with welterweight champion Belal Muhammad would be a unique test. Belal’s relentless pace, exceptional endurance, and well-rounded skills make him a tough opponent for anyone. However, Topuria’s adaptability and dangerous finishing ability would keep him competitive. The real challenge would be facing a larger, stronger fighter like Belal, but Topuria’s track record of excelling under pressure shows he has the potential to compete at the highest level
What’s Next for “El Matador”
For now, Topuria’s focus is on defending his featherweight title. At the same time, he’s preparing to jump to lightweight, aiming for a shot at the belt there. If he succeeds, he’ll set the stage for his biggest challenge yet: taking on the giants of the welterweight division.
Making History
If Topuria pulls this off, he’ll become a top 5 UFC legend. Joining the ranks of multi-division champions, he’ll inspire fighters everywhere to dream bigger and push boundaries.
The MMA world is watching closely to see if “El Matador” can make his ambitions a reality—and become the first to achieve three weight championship status.
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