Ilia Topuria is more than willing to give Sean O'Malley a chance to become a two-division UFC champion.
Ahead of his scheduled bantamweight title defense against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas, O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) stated, if victorious, he is interested in moving up to featherweight to challenge the winner of Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) vs. Max Holloway, who meet for the featherweight strap at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi.
Topuria, 27, said he’d gladly accept that matchup if presented, and like has so boldly predicted for his clash with Holloway, he thinks O’Malley would be light work.
“When he pronounce those kind of things like, ‘If I win,’ it’s because he’s not very confident about himself,” Topuria told MMA Junkie. “First of all, he has a very tough matchup ahead. If he does it, why not? Why not? I would love to have that fight. It’s like, thank you God. For everyone it’s going to be so huge. Like, ‘Ilia is fighting Max or he’s fighting Sean O’Malley.’ But in reality, I know that they both suck. I can do with them whatever I want to do. I can do it with both of them. I can beat them both in the same night. No problem.”
O’Malley is just the latest in a long line of names who have expressed a desire to chase title glory in two weight classes. Topuria has those ambitions himself, he said, but wants to wait until the timing is right go after the lightweight strap.
“To be honest I could do it after the Volkanovski fight, but I decided to keep fighting in 145 and to defend my belt,” Topuria said. “Whenever it comes, I will be ready. After this one, after the fight with Max Holloway once I knock him out, maybe the UFC will call me and tell me that they want me to move up to 155, and I will be very happy with that decision. If not, I will keep defending my belt, keep doing my job. If anyone wants to test himself, I will be there. In 145, 155, 170 – I don’t care. I’m a fighter. And I’m the best fighter in the world. I’m not the average level of fighter.”
If reigning 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev is still the man in that division if the time comes for Topuria to add 10 pounds to his frame, he said his level of confidence in that fight – like all others – would be quite high.
“I respect Makhachev,” Topuria said. “I know what it takes to get inside that cage. I know all the sacrifices a person has to make to go inside that octagon. I respect him, but there’s levels. I feel I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts. I bring a fight style that no one has, and no one had. I’m just improving the game. I’m just the new face of the game. It’s just a matter of time until everyone will realize this.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
