Jack Della Maddalena’s coach, Ben Vickers, believes Ilia Topuria has no business at welterweight.
Topuria vacated his featherweight title earlier this year after defending it only once. After former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev moved up to welterweight, Topuria won the vacant lightweight title against former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June. “El Matador” has since been teasing a move up to welterweight after a few defenses at lightweight.
However, Vickers believes Topuria is undersized for 170 pounds. Vickers believes Topuria’s style is very similar to that of his own pupil, Maddalena.