Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), the UFC’s newly minted featherweight champion, is sad after current feedback from UFC shade commentator Joe Rogan relating to Topuria’s intention to not instantly rematch Alexander Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) at UFC 305 in Australia in August.
On a current episode of “JRE,” essentially the most widely-consumed podcast on the earth, Rogan, who has been with the UFC since 2002 after a quick stint within the mid-90s, recommended that Topuria wouldn’t battle the previous champion in Volkanovski based mostly on rumors he had heard across the group.
“I don’t know who he needs to battle subsequent,” Rogan instructed ex-UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway. “However I assume he looks like he’s the champ; he can name the pictures. I do know that he turned down the Perth one—305, the Volkanovski rematch.”
RELATED: Max Holloway hits again after Ilia Topuria questions his need to battle for the featherweight belt: ‘You’re spiraling!’
Topuria took to ‘X’ (previously Twitter) Wednesday in response to Rogan. The champion denied any of these potential rumors, saying Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) is the subsequent rightful challenger.
Illia Topuria calls out Joe Rogan with out mentioning him by identify
I by no means turned down the rematch with Alex because the UFC has by no means provided me this battle. As I’ve stated many instances earlier than, I would be the first to knockout Holloway. Let’s preserve this straightforward: Do you need to battle? If the reply is sure, there’s nothing extra to debate. Carry my belt and…
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) Might 1, 2024
“I by no means turned down the rematch with Alex because the UFC has by no means provided me this battle.” Illia Topuria wrote. “As I’ve stated many instances earlier than, I would be the first to knockout Holloway. Let’s preserve this straightforward: Do you need to battle? If the reply is sure, there’s nothing extra to debate. Carry my belt and your pillow.”
At press time, Topuria’s tweet has taken MMA Twitter by storm. Many followers have tweeted to defend Topuria, claiming Rogan is mendacity to achieve consideration.
No matter who’s appropriate, Topuria has already confirmed himself with the potential to grow to be a worldwide famous person, together with appearances at Actual Madrid soccer video games and claiming that he would be the richest athlete on the earth by 2025.
Illia Topuria has not been booked for a battle, because the UFC has but to announce a essential occasion for UFC 305 or UFC 306. UFC 306 will happen Sept. 14 on the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, culminating with Mexican Independence Day Weekend.
It stays to be seen if the UFC will reply to the web firestorm, but it surely’ll probably be enterprise as typical.
What are your ideas on Illia Topuria’s response to Joe Rogan, and who’s in the proper in your opinion?