He previously reigned as featherweight king, knocking out all-time greats Alexander Oliveira and Max Holloway in championship bouts. While Topuria is relishing his accomplishment, it was slightly dimmed by Oliveira not being the incumbent champion.

Former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was long thought to be Topuria’s toughest test at 155 lbs, however, that fight is now out of the picture with Makhachev moving up to the welterweight division where he has his own aspirations of becoming a two-division world champion.