Topuria dismisses Makhachev's takedowns: "There's a big difference between trying and achieving it."

There's not much time left until Ilia Topuria finally knows his next opponent. The options, as we reported on ABC MMA, are clear: lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or former welterweight champion Charles Oliveira . Everything will depend on what happens tonight in the main event of UFC 315, where welterweight champion Belal Muhammad defends his title against Australian Jack Della Maddalena. Should the champion retain his belt, Makhachev will face Topuria at UFC 317 on June 28.

"Makhachev is a striker who tends to wrestle and use the ground to control. Oliveira tends more toward submission. One is left-handed and the other right-handed. The takedowns are different. The movements are different, the guard, the height. Being bigger doesn't necessarily mean he's a disadvantage. Islam will try to take me to the ground, but there's a big difference between trying and succeeding, " the Spanish-Georgian analyzed on El Hormiguero last Thursday.

The former UFC featherweight champion asserted that neither of them has ever faced anyone like him. "With two disciplines, you're no longer good enough to be a world champion. Physically, you have to be perfect, and mentally, unbreakable. You have to be at your best against me, and with Islam's 8 centimeters taller than me, he has little to do. Besides, I like that he's Russian; he doesn't intimidate me," said El Matador, a fighting nickname he will keep .

One of Makhachev's greatest qualities is, without a doubt, his excellent level of hand-to-hand combat, after a lifetime of wrestling training in Dagestan. But Topuria isn't worried about that. "I don't think he'll ever touch my legs, because when he feels me, he'll want to go back to Russia ," the Spanish-Georgian hesitated.

Regarding the possibility of Jack Della Maddalena winning the fight and Makhachev moving up a weight class, Topuria also spoke out. "I think Islam is trying to change weight; he's having the same problems I am with cutting weight. He's already a world champion, he's defended it many times, and I think he's looking for a challenge, but he hasn't had the same courage as me. If he's trying to change weight, make way for those who are fighting for their dreams and move on," he concluded.