UFC champ Ilia Topuria hints at vacating title for light-weight transfer

Is Ilia Topuria about to voluntarily quit the UFC featherweight title? It seems he occupied with it.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who earned his first 145-pound title protection with a knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October after claiming the belt from Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February, mentioned he’s all in favour of shifting as much as light-weight in his subsequent contest.

All indicators pointed to Topuria subsequent defending his belt in a rematch with Volkanovski in 2025, maybe in Spain, however it seems “El Matador” has a special thought in thoughts.

“There have been talks of Miami, however I’m unsure as a result of there are nonetheless some pending conversations,” Topuria instructed Spanish radio outlet El Partidazo de COPE. “We want to speak about it and try my future, however for me, it’s very clear how I need to do it. I’d like to maneuver as much as the following weight class, and since Islam (Makhachev) is the champion preventing in January (in opposition to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311), and he gained’t be prepared for April or May, I’d prefer to battle in opposition to the No. 1 contender proper now, who’s Charles Oliveira.”

“I’d like to maneuver up a weight class,” . “Since Islam (Makhachev) fights in January, I’d prefer to face the division’s high contender, Charles Oliveira.”

When pressed by the radio host as as to whether the callout of Oliveira might imply he’s shifting on from the featherweight division for might, which in flip would imply relinquishing the belt, Topuria nodded his head.

“Maybe there’s a change coming,” Topuria mentioned. “Yes, very possible (you noticed my final battle at featherweight).”

Whether Oliveira is within the matchup with Topuria stays to be seen. “Do Bronx” is coming off a unanimous choice win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309 in November, and afterward mentioned he intends to take a seat cageside for Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan on Jan. 18 and problem the winner.

Prior to his battle at UFC 309, Oliveira was requested about the potential for Topuria shifting up in weight, and cautioned him about doing so.

“Ilia is a tricky fighter – somebody who talks the speak and walks the stroll,” Oliveira mentioned by way of an interpreter at UFC 309 media day. “He’s doing issues. I can see why he would need to problem individuals. He could be, clearly, a tricky battle.

“I feel that what occurs is lots of fighters, every time they get the belt, they’ve that belt wrapped round their waist, they begin considering up and down within the divisions. But I feel you need to be very cautious if you’re coming as much as light-weight as a result of that is powerful. This is a really powerful division. But at any fee, I feel that he’s a really powerful and really harmful man.”