Daniel Cormier: Ilia Topuria is 'a real life star' but Islam Makhachev 'gets by him'
Daniel Cormier has now spent the better part of a decade calling the biggest UFC fights from cageside, and even he is blown away by Ilia Topuria after UFC 317.
Former featherweight champ Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) became the first fighter to claim titles in two weight classes with an undefeated record when he knocked out Charles Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC) in the first round on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena to capture the featherweight strap.
UFC Hall of Famer Cormier was in the commentary booth with Joe Rogan and Jon Anik as "El Matador" made history, and he struggles to see anyone who can touch him at 155 pounds outside of former champ Islam Makhachev, who is going for his own two-division title moment when he challenges Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight strap.
"The kid's very impressive," Cormier said post-fight at UFC 317 on his YouTube channel. "He's only 28 years old. He's only had nine UFC fights and he's already a double champion. He's the real deal. ... Ilia Topuria's a real life star, man. He really is. I think we're going to be watching this kid for a real long time, as long as he stays the course. He seems to be doing all the right things. As long as he stays the course I believe he's going to be very valuable and in the championship picture or as the champion at 155 for a long time.
"I think Islam gets by him, but I think Islam would be one of the greatest challenges he would have because they're both just next level, but right now he seems to be separating himself from everybody. It's just unbelievable."
With a super fight against Makhachev seemingly off the table for now, Topuria has expressed interest in making his first title defense against Paddy Pimblett, who entered the octagon for a faceoff at the end of the UFC 317 main event.
Cormier is all in on that matchup happening next, but thinks Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has an uphill climb if he wants to take Topuria's belt.
"I believe that's a great fight," Cormier said. "Paddy will have to use his size on Ilia if he wants a chance, though. Because he is not as good a striker as Charles Oliveira, and you saw what Ilia did to Charles. But you've got to be very careful on the Paddy PImblett side to make sure you're doing the right things and try to get him down. Charles didn't have much success taking him down."
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