Ilia Topuria Echoes Dana White’s Praise for Khamzat Chimaev Ahead of UFC 319
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UFC’s pound-for-pound king Ilia Topuria is the man of the moment after a dominant win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. But even amid his meteoric rise, Topuria holds another unstoppable UFC star in the highest regard: Khamzat Chimaev.
Topuria’s Meteoric Rise to Stardom
Since his crowning victory over former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria has taken a giant leap into superstardom. The Spaniard now sits atop the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings after what may be one of the greatest three-fight win streaks in recent memory.
His wins over legends Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski, and Oliveira have fueled comparisons to Conor McGregor and sparked fan speculation about Topuria’s potential future as a UFC G.O.A.T.
Known for his ambition, Topuria has even hinted at pursuing three-division world champion status, setting the stage for a historic career. While he’s currently locked in rivalries, most notably with Islam Makhachev, fans and analysts alike are eagerly watching the entire welterweight division.
Topuria’s Respect for Khamzat Chimaev
While Topuria may be the UFC’s hottest star right now, he readily acknowledges that an unstoppable force is rising in the middleweight division, Khamzat Chimaev.
Chimaev exploded onto the scene in 2020 with back-to-back UFC victories just 10 days apart, shocking the MMA world with his dominant style and unmatched aggression. Although health issues slowed his recent activity, he has maintained momentum. Last time out, we saw a devastating first-round victory over Robert Whittaker.
As Khamzat prepares for his first title shot against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, Topuria spoke to ESPN MMA, calling Chimaev a “Savage” and backing his potential for greatness.
Fans quickly took note of Topuria’s praise:
- “Real recognizes real” — @basedgoddie
- “Ilia beats Khamzat at welterweight” — @gefenraz7__
Dana White’s Early Hype for Chimaev
Topuria’s high regard for Chimaev echoes the sentiments of UFC President Dana White, who has been praising “Borz” since his early days.
After Chimaev’s third UFC fight, where he dispatched Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds, White was visibly stunned and said during the post-fight press conference:
Since then, Chimaev has maintained his undefeated record and defeated former champions, solidifying his place among the elite.
Khamzat Chimaev’s last three UFC fights:
- vs. Kevin Holland — Win, Round 1, D’arce choke
- vs. Kamaru Usman — Win, Majority Decision
- vs. Robert Whittaker — Win, Round 1, Face crank
The Future: Topuria vs. Chimaev?
With Chimaev poised for a title shot and a potential perfect 15-0 MMA record, the future looks bright for the undefeated star. Meanwhile, Topuria’s rise continues, and the prospect of a showdown between these two UFC beasts tantalizes fans.
Whether as rivals or contemporaries, Topuria and Chimaev could dominate the UFC landscape for years to come, pushing each other to new heights.
Exciting times lie ahead for UFC fans, and this may be just the beginning of a fun and historic journey.
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