UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria insists Movsar Evloev is not a worthy title challenger.
Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) remained unbeaten when he outgrappled former champ Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310. While Evloev has certainly amassed a resume that warrants a title shot, Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) thinks his lack of ability to finish fights harms him.
Topuria sees red-hot Diego Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) making more noise than Evloev.
“I think Diego deserves it more because Movsar has more fights in the UFC, but he has eight (nine) decisions, five (one) by split decision. Like, man, you need to finish someone,” Topuria told Fox Sports Australia. “Do something, do something relevant, put yourself in that spot, and why not? We can do it. But if you don’t finish anyone – I fight for the fans.
“I fight to entertain the fans, and I need someone inside the cage to be entertaining. I don’t need someone who’s only looking for a win and grab you and this and that, which he won’t be able to do that with me. I would knock him out in the first round, but I need someone to hype up the fight. I need a good dance partner.”
Topuria wants to move up to lightweight and challenge Islam Makhachev next. But if he remains at featherweight for his next fight, he plans on defending his belt in a rematch against Alexander Volkanovski, who he knocked out at UFC 298 to become champion.
