For the first time in a long time, there is a new champion at the top of the featherweight division with a target on his back.
Ilia Topuria has made a huge impact since signing with UFC, and his knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski to win 145-pound gold was his best performance to date.
If “El Matador” wants to stay at the top for the long term, he won't just have to worry about current favorites like Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev.
There are plenty of contenders hoping to face Topuria in the future, but the champion is definitely someone Haider Amir has his sights set on.
Haider Amir is confident he can compete on equal terms with featherweight champion Ilia Topuria
Unbeaten featherweight contender Amir got off to the perfect start last weekend at UFC, stopping Jong Yong Lee in the first round.
As he continues to climb the ranks, he already has a plan in mind for the path to the top.
He recently spoke to MMA News after defeating Britain's Arnold Allen along the way and said he hopes Topuria will still be the champion if he enters the title fight.
Amir said that while a fight with Holloway wouldn't be ideal, he believes he has the ability to cause the current titleholder serious problems if the two were to meet inside the Octagon.
“I need someone in the top 30-20, then one or two more, then I'll fight Arnold Allen and knock him out, then Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway. Ideally I'd fight Ilia Topuria. Max Holloway has connections with my team so that would be a great fight too, but stylistically it would ruin Ilia Topuria. I don't care what anyone says.”
Read also: Beneil Dariush calls teammate Giga Chikadze 'best in the world when he's in good form' ahead of UFC 304
