Movsar Evloev wants to prove himself against Ilia Topuria, regardless of whether there's a title on the line. Topuria won the featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 last year and defended it by knocking out Max Holloway for the very time in his career at UFC 308.

Khabib Nurmagomedov suggests submission artist Charles Oliveira would be a fair fight for Ilia Topuria, favoring the featherweight champ in his lightweight debut. "If you move up and he beat somebody like Charles, of course [title shot]. I think Ilia can beat [Oliveira]," Nurmagomedov said.

Ilia Topuria will bid to become a two-weight champion against Islam Makhachev later this year. The featherweight champion won his first belt by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 last February. Ilia Topuria then spectacularly defended it by putting Max Holloway to sleep at UFC 308 in October.

British UFC lightweight star Paddy Pimblett thinks Ilia Topuria's jump up to lightweight will prove to be an ill-advised move.

Chael Sonnen thinks Ilia Topuria will have to earn a shot at UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) vacated his featherweight title for a move up to 155 pounds. Makhachev previously stated that a fight with “another featherweight” in Topuria doesn’t interest him,

A UFC veteran backs Islam Makhachev’s take on Ilia Topuria, agreeing with his assessment: “He’s got a great point.”