Ilia Topuria is preparing for a major challenge at UFC 317, aiming to secure a UFC welterweight title shot aspirations if circumstances align in his favor. He has expressed willingness to pursue a historic bout if he becomes a two-division champion and Islam Makhachev also captures gold later this year.
Speaking at a pre-fight press conference in Las Vegas, Topuria stated,
“If Islam becomes the welterweight world champion, for sure I’m going to push for that shot also,”
highlighting his focus on a future showdown with Makhachev depending on their weight class status.
Changes in Weight Divisions Affecting Title Contenders
Topuria previously held the featherweight title but vacated it to move up to lightweight, hoping to clash with Makhachev for the 155-pound championship. However, his immediate next fight is against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC’s International Fight Week card.
Meanwhile, Makhachev has vacated his lightweight belt to move up to welterweight, where he aims to challenge new champ Jack Della Maddalena. This shift leaves open the possibility of their matchup taking place at either lightweight or welterweight, depending on title outcomes.
Topuria commented,
“We’ll see how he does in the welterweight division. If he wins the title, and I win the title in the lightweight division, maybe I move up or he comes down to the lightweight division and we have the fight that everyone wants to see.”
Charles Oliveira’s Return to Title Contention
Charles Oliveira will fight for UFC gold again after a difficult past few years. He lost the vacant lightweight belt to Makhachev by submission at UFC 280 in October 2022. Before that, Oliveira earned the title at UFC 262 by defeating Michael Chandler, then defended it by stopping Dustin Poirier at UFC 269.
Oliveira continued his impressive run by submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 but was stripped of the belt for missing weight. He recently dominated Chandler in their November rematch at UFC 309, setting up his opportunity to reclaim the championship for a second time.
Topuria’s Perspective on Makhachev and His Own Ambitions
Although Topuria originally aimed to fight Makhachev due to his dominance in the lightweight division, he acknowledges that he cannot control others’ decisions.
“To be honest, I wanted to face him because he was the guy who was dominating everyone in that weight division,”
Topuria said.
He added,
“But at the end of the day, I can’t control what they do. The only thing I can control is what I do, so I wanted to move up, I wanted to fight for a title, and this is what I’m doing. He decided to move up also, so I can’t do anything else, and go and fight whoever wants to fight me.”
Topuria further reflected on Makhachev’s move, stating,
“[He moved up] because he has his own goals, is what I think.”
His measured approach underscores his focus on his own path while remaining open to the possibility of a high-profile clash.
Potential Impact of a Topuria-Makhachev Championship Bout
If both fighters achieve their respective goals—Topuria securing the lightweight title and Makhachev capturing the welterweight championship—it could lead to a historic matchup. Their willingness to cross weight classes for a title fight would generate significant attention within the UFC and among fans.
The upcoming fights, including Topuria’s bout against Oliveira and Makhachev’s challenge at welterweight, will determine if this anticipated confrontation becomes a reality. Both athletes’ ambitions highlight the dynamic landscape of UFC championship divisions in 2024.