Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who also held gold at 145 pounds, is currently ranked at the top of the 155-pound weight class. In addition, “El Matador” holds the No. 1 spot in the promotion’s pound-for-pound rankings (see them here).
PFL’s unbeaten lightweight kingpin, Usman Nurmagomedov, is not impressed.
“Come on, Ilia Topuria, how he can be lightweight No. 1 in the world? He cannot be,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Fighting. “He did only one fight. I have 19 fights in lightweight [division].
I beat former champions. I beat champions. I think my resume is better than his. How many fights does he have? 14? I have 14 finishes in my career.”
Nurmagomedov stands at 19-0 (1 NC) with eight knockouts and six submissions. His next assignment comes in a rematch against former Bellator bruiser, Paul Hughes, when the promotion returns to Dubai in October. As for Topuria, 17-0 with seven knockouts and eight submissions, he’s currently waiting for matchmakers to select his next opponent.
