Daniel Cormier doesn't think Ilia Topuria 'has as much say as he thinks he does'

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01/05/2024 18:52

Undefeated Ilia Topuria captured the featherweight title at UFC 298 in February by knocking out longtime titleholder Alexander Volkanovski. Who he'll fight next and when remains up in the air.

The biggest fight the promotion can put together for Topuria is either a rematch with Volkanovski or a match against former two-time titleholder Max Holloway. According to UFC commentator Joe Rogan, Topuria turned down a rematch with Volkanovski for UFC 305 in Perth, Australia.

Topuria would like to set the terms for facing Holloway, but former two-division champion Daniel Cormier isn't so sure that Topuria has much of a say.

"Ilia Topuria is the champ, and as the champ, at times, you have some say into who you're going to fight, when you're going to fight him, when you're ready, and all of that," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "I don't know, though, if he has as much say in this as he thinks he does.

"Max Holloway to me is clearly the guy. If not, [it's] Alexander Volkanovski. Max told me that. Him and I spoke personally, and he goes, 'I thought Volk was going to get a rematch. How in the world does he not get a rematch?' This is coming from the guy that's waiting for the title fight. But he recognizes, 'Look, man, this dude beat me three times, long reigning champion, if anyone deserves an immediate rematch, it's this guy,' but it doesn't sound like that's happening for Alexander Volkanovski."

Cormier would like to see Topuria commit to facing Holloway next and set a timeframe for the fight to happen. Once that occurs, the ball would be in Holloway's court.

"I think Ilia Topuria needs to come right out and say, 'Hey, I want Max Holloway on this date.' Then it would be on Max," Cormier said. "Because now, Max is the guy — and sure he has the 'BMF' title — but he wants the featherweight championship. Ilia has that. When Ilia says, 'I want this fight on this date,' Max will have to say, 'Okay,' or he will say no and they will move on.

"And then Ilia Topuria, at that point, can then start to go, 'I don't want to fight him. He had his chance, he could've did it then, he didn't want to play by the rules.' He has to make a statement saying, 'This is what I want as the champ,' and then put the ball in Max's court to deny it. But right now, it's not coming off great, because he's batting away all of these guys with no clear idea of who else there is."