Morning Report: Ilia Topuria claims UFC has promised lightweight title fight

Ilia Topuria is trusting Dana White and the UFC.

The featherweight champion is about to maneuver as much as the 155-pound division (and formally vacate his belt with Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes set to combat for it within the UFC 134 fundamental occasion on April 12), although he’s but to obtain official phrase if he can be combating light-weight champion Islam Makhachev or one other contender to earn that chance.

Topuria spoke to media following a Means of Warrior occasion in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, and he assured his supporters that it doesn’t matter what, the UFC has assured his subsequent combat can be for the light-weight title.

“I’m not totally positive what my subsequent combat can be,” Topuria mentioned in Spanish (h/t MMA Marca, translation through Championship Rounds). “The one factor I’m positive of is that the UFC’s phrase is that my subsequent combat can be for the world title. That’s all I do know. Afterwards, if it’s going to be Islam, if it’s going to be Charles, I do not know.”

“The belt can be on the road,” he added. “It will likely be on the road. That was the promise for leaving my title vacant. They’ve all the time saved their guarantees.”

Topuria didn’t insist Makhachev must be the one to face him; quite, both Makhachev defends his title in opposition to “La Leyenda,” or Makhachev makes an oft-discussed transfer as much as 170 kilos in order that Topuria and one other contender can compete for a vacant light-weight belt.

That different contender might be Charles Oliveira, who Topuria has beforehand expressed curiosity in combating, sparking a verbal beef between the 2. Nonetheless, Oliveira just lately dismissed Topuria, saying he’s not “a giant combat,” which drew a pointy response from Topuria, who questioned Oliveira’s accolades.

“I haven’t dissed [Oliveira], I’ve instructed the reality,” Topuria mentioned. “He has 10 losses. I haven’t mentioned anything. He has 10 losses. 5 by knockout, 4 by submission, one by choice. He says [lightweight] is the hardest division there may be. When he was combating at 145, even Cub Swanson beat him up. That’s the place the dialog ends.

“One thing he couldn’t obtain at 145 kilos, he did at 155, the place he grew to become champion. So why is that division more durable than the one I come from? I don’t discover any logic in it. And that’s why I mentioned it looks as if he hasn’t learn a single web page of a newspaper. So if that’s disrespectful, I don’t know since when telling the reality is disrespectful.”

Outcomes. Brandon Moreno out-points Steve Erceg to win UFC Mexico fundamental occasion.

Outcomes 2. Naoki Inoue outstrikes Yuki Motoya, survives late scare to defend title.

4th. Brandon Moreno gunning for 4th Alexandre Pantoja combat to headline UFC 320 in Mexico: ‘I believe it’s excellent.’

Signing. Kyoji Horiguchi indicators with UFC, vacates RIZIN title.

Response. Manuel Torres reacts to criticism of referee stoppage over Drew Dober knockout.

Beef. Jorge Masvidal calls out Leon Edwards to lastly settle their beef: ‘I’ll come off the sofa and whoop your ass.’

Rematch. Chael Sonnen thinks Alex Pereira shouldn’t rematch Magomed Ankalaev: ‘It actually was not overly aggressive.’

UFC Mexico Submit Present.

UFC Mexico put up combat presser.

Brandon Moreno post-fight interview.

Each knockout from UFC Mexico.

One of many biggest performances in MMA historical past.

Forrest Griffin interview.

On To the Subsequent One. MMA Preventing’s Mike Heck and Alexander Ok. Lee determine what’s subsequent for two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno after a strong win over Steve Erceg at UFC Mexico, plus matchup picks for the remainder of the cardboard’s huge winners.

Respect.

Manel Kape throwing shade at Brandon Moreno.

Hey. Cease lacking weight!

Timber.

Ignacio Bahamondes’ subsequent opponent higher watch the F out.

Certain.

Mike Malott’s brother getting right into a combat within the NHL.

UFC Mexico was a very good time. I do know some persons are break up on the leisure issue of the principle occasion however I believed it was an pleasant scrap, capping off a really strong evening of fights. Unsure we’ll be capable of say the identical factor this upcoming Saturday. I suppose we’ll see.

In case you discover one thing you’d wish to see within the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and tell us about it. Additionally, comply with MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Fb.