Who Is Ilia Topuria Fighting Next?
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Ilia Topuria is on the run of a lifetime—one we haven’t seen in quite some time—knocking out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway back-to-back. With his stock skyrocketing and superstardom reaching new heights, fans are eager to know when he will return to the octagon. Now that his belt is set to be vacated and his move to lightweight is confirmed, it’s the perfect time to examine the division’s landscape and potential opponents.
Topuria recently took to X to tease his next fight, just a day after posting an Instagram reel promoting the new Daredevil series on Disney+. Rumors are swirling about a potential clash with Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. But, nothing has been confirmed.
Topuria vs. Who?
While the lightweight division feels wide open, only a few matchups truly make sense for Ilia Topuria. Back in November 2024, he even asked fans on X who they wanted to see him fight next.
According to a Russian reporter from TASS, Topuria turned down a fight with Arman Tsarukyan, opting instead to wait for an immediate title shot. While a bout between the two would be logical, it could diminish the hype surrounding a potential showdown with Islam Makhachev.
But he has to fight someone. So, who?
Islam Makhachev
In January, Ilia went on a rant on X, calling out Islam. Both fighters expressed interest in moving up a weight class to become double champs. However, Dana White has since stated that the UFC will only allow it under the right circumstances. Ilia is determined to fight for the lightweight title, but it’s uncertain if he’ll get the opportunity. Earlier this year, he hinted at a future showdown, saying, ‘Se [see] you soon.’
Islam finds himself in a tricky spot. While he deserves a welterweight title shot, he’s hesitant to fight Belal Muhammad, a friend and recent training partner. He has already beaten every top contender at lightweight, yet may also want to avoid another featherweight moving up. His title reign has largely been defined by fights against featherweights or short-notice opponents. After UFC 311, when asked about Ilia, Islam seemed willing to face whoever the UFC puts in front of him—like a true champion.
Dustin Poirier
Poirier is far removed from his featherweight days. He’s a top lightweight contender but is coming off a loss to Islam. At this stage in his career, only certain fights make sense. Ilia Topuria is an intriguing option—a new contender with championship pedigree. While many believe Ilia shouldn’t get an immediate title shot, Dustin disagrees.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, he said that if it were up to him, Ilia would fight Islam right away. Given the current state of the division, the timing makes sense. But, a Poirier vs. Topuria matchup would be unexpected yet fitting—and one fans would love to see.
Conor McGregor
When Topuria tweeted that fans wouldn’t believe his next opponent, many immediately thought of Conor McGregor. While Conor is ready to fight, a return to lightweight seems unlikely. Cutting back down would be another challenge, as he’s shown a preference for 170 pounds and even teased 185 for the Chandler fight that never materialized. Plus, in case you missed it, Topuria has made his stance clear—he has no interest in that fight.
Regardless, the fight would be electrifying. Their rises in the sport mirror each other more than people realize. It would be the marquee matchup Ilia is missing, and no one hypes a fight like McGregor. As The Notorious would say, Topuria would be foolish to pass up a ‘red panty night’ payday.
Winner of Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
Obviously, this isn’t the matchup Ilia is teasing, but Michael Chandler or Paddy Pimblett would both be exciting options. Chandler’s star power is undeniable, and regardless of the outcome, his fights are always exciting. Meanwhile, Ilia has a heated rivalry with Pimblett, stemming from their altercation at UFC London in 2022.
If a title shot isn’t next, the winner of this matchup seems like a solid choice, as a win over them would likely land Ilia in the top 10.
Vacating The Featherweight Title
What’s confusing in all the speculation is that Topuria is leaving the featherweight division and moving up to lightweight. This shift in weight came after he tweeted on X that he would not vacate the featherweight title.
He was likely given the choice to either move up and vacate his featherweight title or stay and defend it. But, not both. However, there’s no rule preventing him from returning to claim the featherweight title if he decides to move back down after lightweight. The double champ days may be over, but out of the two, Islam is more deserving of the opportunity. We’ll just have to see how everything plays out.
Who do you want to see Ilia fight next? Let us know in the comments!
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