Former Bellator welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov exclusively for Telecomasia.net commented on Usman Nurmagomedov’s claim that Ilia Topuria can’t be considered the best lightweight in the world.
Did Nurmagomedov compare his lightweight record with Topuria’s? This factor doesn’t actually mean much. Nurmagomedov definitely has a chance to win, and so does Ilia. So the favorite here isn’t clear – it’s a 50‑50 situation. Usman didn’t even fight in the UFC, he fought in Bellator. Topuria went through a tough grind in the UFC, so there’s no doubt about the level of his opposition.
"It’s hard to predict how Nurmagomedov or Topuria will be able to use their strengths, because they might be comfortable against each other or the other way around. Topuria has heavy hands, good reaction and speed. That’s why he wins his fights and does it quite spectacularly. Usman is also a tough fighter. He wrestles, strikes with hands and kicks, and has a good sense of distance.
"How would the fight play out? I’m 100% sure Usman and Ilia would start in the standing. If Topuria started to press on and clearly outstrike Nurmagomedov, the Russian would begin to wrestle. Then we’d see how Ilia handles the fight on the ground,” Koreshkov said.
Recall that Usman Nurmagomedov said that if he beats Paul Hughes in a rematch on October 3 at the PFL event in Dubai (UAE), he will become the best lightweight in the world. Ilia Topuria became the UFC champion at 70 kg in June 2025 by knocking out Charles Oliveira.
