Former two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria put together one of the greatest three-fight winning streaks in the promotion’s history to capture the 145-pound and 155-pound championships.
“El Matador” knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to win the featherweight belt, became the first fighter to knock former featherweight champion and BMF titleholder Max Holloway out and then knocked out former lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira to win the lightweight championship.
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He entered his first title defense in the UFC Freedom 250 main event at the White House a heavy betting favorite against interim titleholder Justin Gaethje. Gaethje stopped Topuria at the conclusion of the fourth frame when Topuria’s corner threw in the towel. Lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett believes Topuria is too small for the lightweight division and that it played a role in the loss.
“He’s a featherweight. That’s why we have weight classes. We have weight classes for a reason and that’s something I’ve always said when people have said, ‘Oh, Illia will knock you out.’ No. He’s a fat featherweight,” Pimblett said on the MIGHTYcast.
“He thinks he’s a lightweight. He’s not a lightweight, lad. I’m a lightweight. He’s a fat featherweight and I would take his punches all day and laugh in his face and punch him in the face and he’s know about it.”
