UFC featherweight champion Elijah Topuria said he would like to make the first defense of his title against Brian Ortega, ranked as the division's third best fighter.
"I would fight Brian Ortega, who was much closer to beating Volkanovski than Holloway was in three fights. Ortega is always a risk to get hit and fight. He won his last fight and has some good wins under his belt. Would I want to come out against him? Sure, because right now it seems like: "Who if not him?" - Topuria stated in El Podcast de Webpositer.
Recall that Topuria won the belt in February at UFC 298 by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski.
Brian Ortega, the UFC's top-ranked welterweight, has once again stated his willingness to fight the promotion's featherweight champion Elijah Topuria.
"If Volkanovski turns down the fight with Topuria ... Alex has accomplished a lot and has been champion for a long time. But if he says no, the UFC shouldn't rush him. I know a guy who's ready to fight. I'm in shape. I'm not trying to sell anything, but I've never seen a boring fight with me in it. Either I win early or my opponent finishes me," - quotes Ortega Kanpai Media.
Recall, earlier Topuria told Holloway that if the latter is not satisfied with the conditions for the fight, he can be replaced by Ortega.
In a recent interview, current UFC featherweight champion Elijah Topuria told Max Holloway that if he didn't like the conditions for the fight, he, Elijah, could fight Brian Ortega. Today, Ortega reacted to these words of the champion.
"Let's make the fight in Spain, man, let's go. If you could just snap your fingers then they would have sent me a contract by now, Elijah gave his consent and Volkanovski decided to wait. The UFC has their man right now, I'm ready. Everyone knows - when my fight takes place, it won't be boring," Ortega said in an interview with YouTube channel Kanpai Media.
Recall, in his last fight Holloway won by knockout over Justin Gaethje.
Former UFC flyweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who made a successful debut in the welterweight division this past weekend, has his sights set on a bout with Brian Ortega.
"Give me my next opponent, the best possible opponent. I will respectfully accept a fight with Brian Ortega. This is a guy I used to train with, same management, there's no animosity or anything like that. We're both just trying to accomplish the same thing. It's not like he's my main training partner like Merab, it's a different situation. I think I would beat a guy like him and that's undeniable," Sterling said at the press conference.
Recall that Sterling won a unanimous decision over Kelvin Kattar at UFC 300 in Las Vegas.
Well-known commentator and expert John Anik believes that the UFC management should schedule a contender fight in the featherweight category between the American Brian Ortega And Movsar Evloev from Russia