Ilia Topuria, UFC champion in two weight classes, recently spoke in an interview with the Spanish publication Marca about his plans to end his career in mixed martial arts and switch to professional boxing.
The fighter emphasized that combining MMA and boxing is impossible due to differences in training approaches. He intends to first fully focus on his performances in the UFC and then transition to boxing.
Topuria also noted that his goal in the UFC is to win a title in a third weight class. As a potential opponent, he considers welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Previously, the athlete also expressed a desire to have a boxing match with undisputed world champion Terence Crawford.
At the moment, Topuria has paused his UFC career for personal reasons but hopes to return soon to defend his lightweight title. He was also previously the holder of a championship belt in the featherweight division.
