by 
Javier Mendez has no interest in UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev fighting Ilia Topuria – for now.
Featherweight champion Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) announced a move up to 155 pounds and expressed interest in a possible fight with Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC).
Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) turned down Topuria as an opponent, but Mendez believes if Topuria beats former champion Oliveira, it would legitimize him as an easy title challenger.
“Charles is not an easy fight for anyone and I easily prefer Ilia because of his power and boxing precision,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “Charles is great. He is good at everything. He comes with his knees, he comes with this one. So you can never ignore Charles. He was world champion for a reason. He is still a great competitor, and he and Arman fight, He also came close to submitting Arman very often. So you can never ignore him and he could definitely be a title contender again soon.
“Let’s say he fights Ilia. Then suddenly Charles hits him. Then suddenly there is a rematch with Charles, which would be justified at that point. So let’s see what happens. But he’s coming in.” Staying at lightweight and staying at lightweight is a good step in the right direction compared to staying at lightweight and then staying at featherweight again. So when (Topuria) fights another lightweight at lightweight, that means people now look at him as a lightweight. He is a real lightweight.
Topuria’s head coach revealed that the main motivation for a lightweight change is weight reduction. However, Mendez says Makhachev might be able to move around even more easily than Topuria.
Makhachev’s next title defense will be in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 311 headliner on January 18.
“He’s motivated,” Mendez said of Topuria. “He’s definitely a champion. He proved it. He has gained weight. I was also told his trainer said he weighed 187 (pounds). I think Islam has never been so difficult. Islam when it starts.” After two months of training camp, Islam is at about 179, 178.
“The guy is a great fighter. I think he has the best boxing hands in the business – the best technically. He can do a lot of damage if he gains weight, but I don’t know what will happen.” I’m not interested in this fight at all, right now I’m interested in defending (Makhachev) against Arman, and who knows – perhaps the welterweight title will be available at that point.
Related
Michael Bisping compares Ilia Topuria’s desire to move up to lightweight to Conor McGregor
Diego Lopes responds to UFC champion Ilia Topuria’s demand for 155 changes: ‘He has a lot to do in the division’
Renato Moicano: UFC champion Ilia Topuria “very small” for lightweight
Daniel Cormier explains how “mental fatigue” is the reason for Ilia Topuria’s strange remark about Charles Oliveira
For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie’s UFC 311 event hub.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Islam Makhachev’s Trainer: Beating Charles Oliveira would make Ilia Topuria a true lightweight
