Khabib Nurmagomedov is fine with Ilia Topuria challenging for the lightweight title.
He just has to earn it first.
Topuria, the UFC’s reigning featherweight champion, recently teased a move up to the 155-pound division before later clarifying that a decision on possibly changing decisions is yet to be made.
In a segment on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Nurmagomedov spoke to Henry Cejudo about the possibility of Topuria challenging Nurmagomedov’s close friend Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in the future.
“I think if he move up and he beat somebody like Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira, he’s next one then, why not?” Nurmagomedov said. “Because there is nobody.”
Makhachev has recorded three defenses of the lightweight title since winning it by defeating Oliveira at UFC 280 in October 2022. He’s riding a 14-fight win streak. His most recent defense saw him submit Dustin Poirier, and he also holds a pair of championship bout wins over then-featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.
Khabib Nurmagomedov wants Ilia Topuria to earn UFC lightweight title shot, likes him to beat Charles Oliveira - MMA Fighting
