UFC feud between Ilia Topuria and ex-champion escalates with latest comments

The beef between Illia Topuria and Charles Oliveira may have been reignited recently with Oliveira’s latest comments on “The Ariel Helwani Show” regarding Topuria's move from the featherweight division to the lightweight division.

“But I have firepower in my wrists, and I’m really focused on the belt itself,” Oliveira said via translation. It’s not about who it’s going to be on my way, but getting the belt. He’s just trying to dig out a fight. He’s saying a lot of crap. I really respect his fights, the way he’s come up and everything, but he’s being very disrespectful now and is saying a lot of things that he shouldn’t.”

Oliveira is comfortable waiting for Topuria, assuming Topuria’s newly-minted promise from the UFC comes true.

“Bottom line is Makhachev is the guy that has to be beat,” Oliveira added. “If [Topuria is] the next one to fight him, then so be it. I’m just an employee here. If he’s given the chance and not me, I’m going to keep fighting, keep preparing and keep waiting for my turn to come around. It is what it is. I don’t think much about it. I’ll fight whoever comes to fight me and that’s about it.”