The UFC has clarified speculation regarding Ilia Topuria’s next fight after the Spanish broadcast for Saturday’s event appeared to announce the matchup.
Topuria has set his sights on achieving two-division glory after choosing to vacate the featherweight gold this year following just one defense. He went 2-0 in 2024, dethroning Alexander Volkanovski before becoming the first to knock out Max Holloway.
Due to an apparent struggle to make the 145-pound weight limit, the Spaniard will move forward as a permanent fixture at 155 pounds. And given his success below, Topuria has seemingly been expecting an immediate showdown with Islam Makhachev.
If not the reigning champ, “La Leyenda” has pointed to a title eliminator opposite Charles Oliveira. And the chances of that being officially announced seemed to receive a boost during the broadcast of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.
But while the Spanish broadcast on ESPN was caught displaying an announcement for Oliveira vs. Topuria, the UFC told MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin that the news is “not true” and was put up by “mistake.”
Whether that simply means a delay in that matchup coming to fruition or that a different bout entirely is on the way for Ilia Topuria remains to be seen.
