Ilia Topuria demanding title shot means RETIREMENT is close, claims UFC legend  Rampage Jackson

UFC legend Rampage Jackson believes the former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will probably retire very soon.

Ilia Topuria demanding title shot means RETIREMENT is close, claims UFC legend  Rampage Jackson

Ilia Topuria's focus on title fights is not a good sign (via MMA Fighting)

Ilia Topuria shocked everyone by becoming the undefeated featherweight champion of the UFC, rising fast through the ranks with relentless performances. The Georgian-Spanish fighter is now one of the biggest names on the UFC roster, gaining fans and respect from fellow fighters. ‘La Layenda’ vacated the title to move up, aiming to conquer the lightweight division by defeating Islam Makhachev. 

Topuria is stubborn about getting the lightweight title, refusing to back down or settle for anything less than championship glory. He has already rejected top contenders such as Arman Tsarukyan, claiming that UFC had promised him a title shot. In a recent video, former UFC champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson talked about this in detail and shared his theory about Topuria.

He don’t wanna fight a contender, he wanna go right to the belt. You know what that means, he’s getting ready to retire. I think he does that, he’s gonna retire.

Rampage Jackson via his YouTube channel 

Topuria began his professional career at 18 and believes 12–14 years is sufficient to compete at the highest level. He has expressed his intention to retire from MMA by age 30, citing a lack of motivation to continue fighting. His early retirement plans have drawn comparisons to athletes like Khabib Nurmagomedov, who also retired at his peak. 

Recently, the undefeated star announced that he has already started his training camp, and it was expected that he would return soon. This announcement has coincided with the pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev’s training camp announcement.

This bit of developments in the MMA space has raised various speculations about their potential clash. However, there has been no official announcement whatsoever, leaving the MMA community guessing about this mega title fight. 

Ilia Topuria’s ultimate plan before retirement 

Ilia Topuria’s undefeated run in the UFC made him one of the best strikers in the roster. His knockout victory against Alexander Volkanovski shocked the MMA world, showcasing his power, and ability to dethrone dominant reigning champions. Topuria’s brutal finish of Max Holloway cemented his legacy at featherweight, beating one of the division’s most respected, durable veterans.

Ilia Topuria wants to become a three-division champion
Ilia Topuria wants to become a three-division champion (via X)

Now in lightweight, his rivalry with Islam Makhachev is heating up, promising fireworks between two elite championship-caliber warriors. Despite being conceived as the underdog, the undefeated fighter was confident about stopping the Dagestani with ease. However, this wasn’t the thing that the fighter wanted and talked about his ultimate dreams as UFC fighter.

Probably a three-weight world champion, this is my goal. You’re not going to see me in the welterweight division like this, skinny. You’re going to see me different. That’s the goal. Move up to the lightweight division, get that belt, then move up to the welterweight division. 

Ilia Topuria via UFC on TNT Sports 

The ex-featherweight champion had talked about walking around at 180 lbs normally, making it difficult to continue cutting to featherweight safely. Despite short height, his explosive power and precision could become a serious problem for opponents in the lightweight division soon. The 170-lbs division, however, looks far-fetched for now, but it’s not an impossible goal for the Georgian-Spanish star.

Ilia Topuria’s intentions to speed run the UFC legacy 

Ilia Topuria‘s intentions to speed run his UFC legacy, aiming to achieve greatness in a very short timeframe is clearly visible. He believes capturing titles in multiple divisions quickly can cement his place among legends without fighting deep into his thirties. However, legends like Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Georges St-Pierre built their legacies through years of dominance and consistency. 

Ilia Topuria's legacy as a UFC fighter
Ilia Topuria’s legacy as a UFC fighter (via X)

Topuria will face the challenge of matching their greatness with fewer fights, risking criticism if his resume lacks longevity. Despite his talent and ambition, achieving long-lasting respect requires more than titles—it demands defending those titles against hungry contenders.

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