The Spanish-Georgian fighter made it clear that he doesn’t see the American as his next opponent.
“Sakharok, congratulations! It was a great performance. A fight with Merab is waiting for you. Do it first,” Topuria wrote on social media.
The fight between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera headlined UFC 299 in Miami went the full distance and ended with the reigning champion winning by unanimous decision with scores of 50-44 and 50-45 twice.
Elijah Topuria won the championship belt on Feb. 17 at UFC 298 in Anaheim with a second-round knockout of Australian Alesksandr Volkanovski, and plans to make his first title defense this October or November at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.
UFC head Dana White, speaking to reporters at a press conference in Miami, avoided answering the question of whether he would be willing to organize a superfight between Sean O’Malley and Elijah Topuria.