UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker is skeptical about Ilia Topuria’s intentions regarding a potential move to the UFC’s 155-pound division. Topuria, the UFC featherweight champion, hinted at a shift to lightweight instead of defending his 145-pound title. Although he later clarified that he wouldn’t vacate the featherweight belt, there appears to be a lack of interest in facing other top contenders after his victory over Max Holloway in his first title defense at UFC 308.
After initially suggesting a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski post-UFC 308, Topuria has since changed his focus, now aiming for a fight with Charles Oliveira in the lightweight division. As of now, the UFC has not confirmed any return bookings for Topuria or Oliveira following their latest victories.
Typically, UFC matchmakers do not permit champions to switch weight classes after a single title defense, although Conor McGregor is a notable exception, having vacated his featherweight title following a full-time move up in weight. Dan Hooker, a teammate of Volkanovski and a rising contender at lightweight, believes Topuria’s plans to move up are primarily a strategy to maintain his relevance in the sport.
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker aired his grievances about Topuria’s intentions in the lightweight category. He remarked on Topuria’s actions as “classic” behavior, suggesting the champion is following McGregor’s playbook by keeping his name in the headlines. Hooker critiqued Topuria’s infrequent fight schedule and presumed that he would only square off against Volkanovski sometime in the next year.
When asked about Topuria’s apparent reluctance to fight Volkanovski again after their faceoff at UFC 308, Hooker firmly stated that Topuria had already agreed to the fight. He expressed frustration, emphasizing that once an agreement is made to clash in the cage, it’s unacceptable to back out of it.
While Topuria initially welcomed comparisons to McGregor, the rapport between them has soured over the past year, leading to increasingly hostile exchanges. McGregor was scheduled to return at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler, but he withdrew due to an injury. The timeline for McGregor’s fight return remains uncertain, as Dana White has postponed the announcement of his comeback.
Topuria claimed the UFC featherweight title by finishing Volkanovski at UFC 298 and remains undefeated in his career, boasting notable victories over fighters like Max Holloway, Josh Emmett, and Bryce Mitchell. Volkanovski is pressing for an immediate title shot upon his planned return, raising questions about the featherweight landscape given Topuria’s statements about moving up in weight.
Despite Topuria’s insistence on shifting to lightweight after his first title defense, Hooker remains convinced that this is merely a tactic to stay relevant, even as Topuria is considered a strong candidate for “Fighter of the Year” in 2024.
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