Ilia Topuria’s Title Reign: Analyzing 5 Key Opponents for Future MMA Championship Defenses

The CSS code snippet provided outlines the styling for a video player container, ensuring it takes up the full width of its parent element and has a height calculated based on a specific aspect ratio. The background color is set to black. In a responsive design context, the height of the video player container is recalculated for different screen sizes using the CSS calc() function. Media queries are used to adjust the top offset of a floating player within the container, accounting for the presence of a top header or primary navigation bar on the webpage. Margins are also set to maintain consistent spacing around the widget.

Ilia Topuria’s stunning victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 was a defining moment that marked the emergence of a new talent in the featherweight division. Topuria’s win over the former champion was supposed to usher in a new era, but his actions following the victory have led to a decline in fan support. Despite his impressive achievement, Topuria’s behavior as the new champion has been off-putting to many. He has been dismissive of the top contenders in his division and has expressed a preference for a fight with Conor McGregor, a move that has drawn criticism from fans and fighters alike.

Topuria’s controversial stance continued as he demanded that Max Holloway risk his BMF title for a chance at the featherweight championship. He also advised Sean O’Malley to stay focused on his division rather than seeking a fight with him. Despite Topuria’s dismissive attitude towards his fellow fighters, there are several potential opponents lined up for him. Five fighters, in particular, are eager for a chance to challenge the new champion.

Among the potential challengers, Sean O’Malley stands out. O’Malley, a bantamweight champion and admirer of Conor McGregor, has made it clear that he wants to follow in McGregor’s footsteps by boxing and winning a second UFC title. His callout of Topuria after defending his title at UFC 299, however, was met with criticism, as many accused him of avoiding a fight with Merab Dvalishvili. Despite the backlash, if Topuria continues to overlook legitimate contenders, O’Malley may find himself in a position to challenge the featherweight champion, especially if the UFC decides to step in due to Topuria’s reluctance to face other top fighters.

Movsar Evloev is another fighter with his sights set on the featherweight title. The Russian wrestler has an impressive undefeated record and was previously scheduled to fight Topuria before a positive COVID-19 test forced him to withdraw. With both fighters having a history, a rematch seems like a possibility. Although Evloev is not the most exciting contender for some, his unbeaten record and history with Topuria add an element of intrigue to a potential matchup.

Brian Ortega is currently ranked third in the featherweight division but has struggled to maintain a consistent record of wins. Despite his lackluster recent performance, Ortega remains a popular and exciting fighter. Topuria has shown interest in facing him, which could lead to a title fight if the UFC agrees. This could be Ortega’s third and possibly final chance at a title if he does not succeed.

Alexander Volkanovski, the former featherweight champion, has a storied legacy in the division. His recent knockout loss to Topuria was unexpected, and while some argue that he deserves an immediate rematch, the UFC might have other plans. Volkanovski’s future in title contention remains uncertain, but he is still a viable option for Topuria’s first title defense.

Max Holloway, once considered to be on the decline, has revitalized his career with a series of impressive victories, including a knockout win over Justin Gaethje. Following his win streak, Holloway called out Topuria, demanding a title fight. While Topuria has stipulated that Holloway must put his BMF title on the line, the UFC ultimately has the final say. Given Holloway’s resurgence and popularity, particularly after UFC 300, he could be the next challenger for Topuria’s featherweight title.

Pete Braeburn
Pete Braeburn
Pete Braeburn is a fantasy sports contributor for King Fantasy Sports and an MMA news writer for SportsHQ.net

The Latest