Ilia Topuria, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, has surprised fans by signaling an imminent departure from the division he has dominated. After delivering back-to-back knockouts against former champions Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, the 27-year-old Spanish fighter has set his sights on a new challenge: the lightweight division.
In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, a Spanish sports radio show, Topuria hinted at a significant career shift.
“Maybe there’s a change coming,” Topuria revealed. “Yes, very likely [my last fight at featherweight]. I’d like to move up to the next weight class, and since Islam [Makhachev] is the champion fighting in January and won’t be ready… I’d like to fight against the No. 1 contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira.”
Known as El Matador, Topuria has quickly risen through the ranks to establish himself as one of the UFC’s elite fighters. While his dominance at featherweight has sparked speculation about a long reign, his decision to test the waters at lightweight could inject new excitement into the division.
Topuria’s proposed opponent, Charles Oliveira, is no stranger to the lightweight spotlight. The former champion is coming off a thrilling victory over Michael Chandler and has made it clear that he is hungry for another shot at UFC gold.
However, Oliveira must wait for the outcome of the lightweight title bout between current champion Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311. Scheduled for January 18, the fight marks Makhachev’s fourth title defense.
Topuria’s move to lightweight, coupled with his stellar performances at featherweight, positions him as a compelling addition to the division. Should his challenge to Oliveira materialize, fans could witness a high-stakes clash between two of the UFC’s most dynamic fighters.
For Topuria, the transition signifies a new chapter in his career and an opportunity to cement his legacy across multiple weight classes.
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