Is Ilia Topuria about to voluntarily give up the UFC featherweight title? It appears he thinking about it.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who earned his first 145-pound title defense with a knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October after claiming the belt from Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February, said he’s interested in moving up to lightweight in his next contest.
All signs pointed to Topuria next defending his belt in a rematch with Volkanovski in 2025, perhaps in Spain, but it appears “El Matador” has a different idea in mind.
“There were talks of Miami, but I’m not sure because there are still some pending conversations,” Topuria told Spanish radio outlet El Partidazo de COPE. “We need to talk about it and take a look at my future, but for me, it’s very clear how I want to do it. I’d like to move up to the next weight class, and since Islam (Makhachev) is the champion fighting in January (against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311), and he won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight against the No. 1 contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira.”
“I’d like to move up a weight class,” . “Since Islam (Makhachev) fights in January, I’d like to face the division’s top contender, Charles Oliveira.”
When pressed by the radio host as to whether the callout of Oliveira could mean he’s moving on from the featherweight division for could, which in turn would mean relinquishing the belt, Topuria nodded his head.
“Maybe there’s a change coming,” Topuria said. “Yes, very likely (you saw my last fight at featherweight).”
Whether Oliveira is interested in the matchup with Topuria remains to be seen. “Do Bronx” is coming off a unanimous decision win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309 in November, and afterward said he intends to sit cageside for Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan on Jan. 18 and challenge the winner.
Prior to his fight at UFC 309, Oliveira was asked about the possibility of Topuria moving up in weight, and cautioned him about doing so.
“Ilia is a tough fighter – someone who talks the talk and walks the walk,” Oliveira said through an interpreter at UFC 309 media day. “He’s doing things. I can see why he would want to challenge people. He would be, obviously, a tough fight.
“I think that what happens is a lot of fighters, whenever they get the belt, they have that belt wrapped around their waist, they start thinking up and down in the divisions. But I think you have to be very careful when you’re coming up to lightweight because this is tough. This is a very tough division. But at any rate, I think that he’s a very tough and very dangerous guy.”