Cheima Moufdil
Ilia Topuria and UFC CEO Dana White appear aligned on what’s next for the Spanish-Georgian star: a shot at the lightweight title at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas.
Topuria, who recently vacated his featherweight title to pursue two-division gold, told Spanish TV program El Hormiguero that he expects his next opponent to be either reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or former champ Charles Oliveira. That aligns with what Dana White confirmed during Thursday’s UFC 315 press conference in Montreal, stating, “Yeah, that’s pretty accurate,” when asked about Topuria’s comments—though he declined to reveal whether the potential Oliveira matchup would be for an interim or vacant title.
The final piece of the puzzle could be decided at UFC 315, where Makhachev’s close friend Belal Muhammad defends his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena. Should Della Maddalena win, it’s believed Makhachev might move up to 170 pounds to challenge him. If Muhammad retains, Makhachev is likely to stay at lightweight and defend against Topuria.
White and Topuria have both hinted since early 2024 that the former featherweight champ’s next fight would be for the lightweight belt, but the opponent has always depended on shifting circumstances. Now, the UFC 315 main event could set the course for not just one, but two divisions.
All eyes are on Saturday’s outcome in Montreal—because it may determine who Topuria faces next and whether UFC 317 delivers a champion-vs-champion showdown.