Ignacio Bahamondes ‘would love to welcome’ Ilia Topuria to lightweight

MEXICO CITY – Ignacio Bahamondes just put his name in the hat for a potential fight against former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

Bahamondes (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), a young, rising lightweight contender, doesn’t think Topuria (15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) should get the next shot at UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for his first fight of his recent move up to 155 pounds. Bahamondes feels Topuria first needs to prove his worth, and he thinks he’s the right dance partner for him.

“The truth is that he did great things at featherweight,” Bahamondes said in Spanish at a UFC Q&A. “Maybe he was missing two more defenses so he could move up as champion and get himself a direct fight against the champion.

“I think that right now he needs to demonstrate he can do the same work he did at featherweight now at 155. I think he should get a top 15 or 10 because of his merit of being a champion, a weight class below. I would love to welcome him if that’s something the company wants. I’m here.”

It’s uncertain the direction the UFC will go next with the lightweight title picture.

Should the Topuria fight come to fruition or not, Bahamondes thinks in two years time he’ll be challenging for UFC gold. This bold statement comes after Bahamondes entered the top-15 of the UFC lightweight division earlier this month with his quick submission win over Jalin Turner on the main card of UFC 313.

“I think for the top 10 I just need one or two more fights,” Bahamondes said. “And to enter the top five, give me two years for me to be fighting for the title.”

Bahamondes, 27, is on a three-fight winning streak and 6-1 in his past seven outings. His lone defeat came against veteran Ludovit Klein back in 2023. Bahamondes trains out of Valle Flow Striking alongside UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.