Not everyone seems to be satisfied that Ilia Topuria’s voyage into the light-weight division will final.
On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White introduced that Topuria had formally vacated his featherweight title and could be transferring as much as 155, presumably for a future struggle with the division’s reigning champion, Islam Makhachev. In consequence, former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski will meet surging contender Diego Lopes at UFC 314 for the vacated 145-pound strap when the promotion heads again to Miami on Saturday, April 12.
Nonetheless, not everyone seems to be satisfied that Topuria’s transfer up will likely be everlasting. Reacting to the information on social media, tenth-ranked featherweight contender Lerone Murphy prompt that ‘El Matador’ will likely be again at 145 by the tip of 2025.
“Additionally Topuria will likely be again at featherweight on the finish of the 12 months I believe,” Murphy wrote on X.
Does Ilia Topuria stand an opportunity in opposition to Islam makhachev?
In fact, all of that rides on how Topuria does when he inevitably steps contained in the Octagon in opposition to Islam Makhachev.
No official particulars have been launched so far as when or the place that struggle will go down, however Ariel Helwani mentioned that the UFC might attempt to ship on the extremely anticipated showdown as early as Worldwide Battle Week in late June.
Topuria and Makhachev are surely two of essentially the most expert fighters within the UFC at the moment, however there’s no denying that the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ may have a large measurement benefit. Many would additionally argue that Makhachev may have a determined benefit on the mat whereas Topuria could also be a bit extra foreboding on the toes than Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege.
Nonetheless, Makhachev has confirmed himself to be greater than able to KO’ing a few of the largest names within the recreation, together with Alexander Volkanovski—the identical man Topuria beat to assert the featherweight title in February 2024.
