Russian UFC star doesn't believe Ilia Topuria will vacate featherweight belt, vows to chase him to 155 pounds if he does: "I need his head on my list"

A Russian UFC contender has set his sights on featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, declaring he will pursue the Spanish fighter even if he moves up to lightweight.

Movsar Evloev, currently riding a nine-fight win streak in the UFC, is frustrated by the uncertainty in the featherweight division as Topuria hints at a potential move to 155 pounds while keeping his title.

Although Topuria has teased a move to lightweight, he has made it clear that he will not vacate the featherweight title while a potential rematch with former champion Alexander Volkanovski is in the works. Evloev, however, remains undeterred, stating that he believes Topuria will hold onto the title and defend it soon:

“Even if the champion moves up, he will leave the title. I will get the title and then I will follow him, lightweight is not too far for me... Even if he moves up, I will take the belt first because this is my first goal. So then I will go after him, even if he goes to middleweight. It doesn’t matter."

He added:

"He’s not a big guy. I don’t need to cut the weight to beat this guy. I need his head on my list. Belt is first but I don’t think that he will leave the title. He’s not going to go to lightweight. He will defend his belt soon, I don’t know when but we’ll see.”

Check out Movsar Evloev's comments below:

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Merab Dvalishvili shared insights on Ilia Topuria's training sessions

Merab Dvalishvili recently shared insights into Ilia Topuria’s rise to dominance in the featherweight division. Topuria captured the title by defeating Alexander Volkanovski and defended it against Max Holloway in 2024, earning widespread acclaim for knocking out two legends in the same year.

Speaking on the Verse Us with Eric Nicksick podcast, Dvalishvili said:

"Holloway, no! I was more surprised with Volkanovski. But after Volkanovski, against Holloway, no! Because he also believed [in] himself and he's really... put a lot of work in."

Speaking further about Topuria's training sessions, he said:

"I sparred with him. He always put me against the wall and it's coming, just coming. It doesn't make sense because you shoot, he does big sprawl. No way you can take him down. He has good wrestling also, and a good wrestling defense, and even good jiu-jitsu and then he just keeps coming and throwing big punches. It's crazy."

Check out Merab Dvalishvili's comments below (57:01):