Dustin Poirier says Ilia Topuria ought to get the title struggle in opposition to Islam Makhachev after vacating the featherweight title.
UFC CEO Dana White introduced this previous Wednesday that Topuria is vacating the featherweight title to maneuver as much as 155, resulting in Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes preventing for the vacant belt in the principle occasion of UFC 314 in April.
Whereas making an look at Galaxy Expertise House in New York Metropolis, Poirier gave his ideas on Topuria giving up the 145-pound title.
“I imply, it’s respectful,” Poirier advised MMA Combating. “It’s honorable to vacate the belt, to not maintain up the division the place guys have been working so exhausting to get their shot on the title. He’s doing it the proper manner.
“I’ve by no means seen him in particular person, however all people says he’s heavy, that he walks round heavy, but when he could make 145, I don’t understand how large he’s as a result of a few of these lightweights are large.”
The controversy since White’s announcement has been whether or not or not Topuria ought to get a direct title shot in opposition to Makhachev, or if he ought to face one other contending light-weight to show he can cling on the prime of the division.
Makhachev’s administration group has tweeted out that they consider Topuria ought to face somebody like Poirier, or Charles Olivieira, or another person on the prime of the division, whereas others consider Topuria wouldn’t make this transfer if there wasn’t some sort of promise in place.
If it had been as much as Poirier, Topuria wouldn’t want a tune-up, prove-your-worth sort of matchup.
“That’s powerful to say, particularly with all the contenders, with how the light-weight division’s been over the previous couple of years,” Poirier stated. “However with a man like him, vacating the belt and shifting up, ending Max Holloway the way in which that he did, I might give him a crack on the light-weight title proper off the bat.”
