Volkanovski believes Topuria can defeat Makhachev

Alexander Volkanovski believes Ilia Topuria has what it takes to defeat Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC lightweight champion. Topuria recently knocked out Volkanovski at UFC 298 to win the featherweight title and made headlines by becoming the first man to knock out former champion Max Holloway at UFC 308. After these big victories, Topuria decided to move up to the lightweight division and gave up his featherweight title. This decision shows his commitment to fighting at a higher weight class and helps keep the featherweight division active. Volkanovski supports Topuria's choice to vacate the title instead of trying to hold both belts. Volkanovski stated that Topuria’s willingness to let go of the featherweight title is commendable. He said it shows Topuria's dedication and allows other fighters in that division to compete without any delays. As someone who has fought both Topuria and Makhachev, Volkanovski is very interested in how a matchup between them would play out. He thinks Makhachev is a tough opponent but believes Topuria has the power to knock him out. Volkanovski highlighted that Topuria is dangerous with his striking and is resilient, always looking for opportunities to land significant punches. He emphasized that Topuria's chances of winning increase in the early rounds, as he is known for his powerful punches.