Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Dana White Confirms Ilia Topuria’s Upcoming Fight Announcement Coming Soon!

Ilia Topuria's first lightweight fight about to be announced in a few weeks as reported by UFC CEO Dana White

The UFC featherweight division had a new king for a short time. Ilia Topuria shocked the world when he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in February to claim the 145-pound title. He then defended his title against the ever durable Max Holloway, only to knock him out. And recently, the Spanish-Georgian fighter vacated the title to pursue his dream of becoming a two-division champion. His eyes are now fixed on that lightweight gold.

Fans have been eagerly waiting to hear who ‘El Matador’ will face in his first lightweight battle. There have been several names thrown around, but the mystery still remains. Recently, UFC CEO Dana White gave his take on Topuria’s next fight.

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Dana White Teases Topuria’s Next Fight Announcement

UFC CEO Dana White recently dropped a bombshell. In an interview with UFC on TNT, he revealed that Ilia Topuria’s next fight will be announced within the next couple of weeks. This news has sent the MMA community into a frenzy of speculation. White however, didn’t offer any hints about the opponent.

“We are working on a plan for Ilia. We should have some announcement about him. Give us couple of more weeks.”

The timing suggests fans might see Ilia Topuria return to action this summer, potentially at one of the UFC’s big International Fight Week events in July. But against which fighter remains to be seen. It all is up for speculation unless something official comes up.

Who Can Ilia Topuria Fight At Lightweight

Ilia Topuria has repeatedly expressed interest in challenging Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound title. The Spanish-Georgian fighter believes he has what it takes to become a two-division champion. However, Dana White had poured cold water over this notion. He believed that there were more options for Topuria at lightweight at the moment. However, this does not eliminate the possibility that fans might see this super fight soon.

Alternatively, a showdown with #2 ranked Charles Oliveira could make sense if the UFC isn’t ready to book Topuria against Makhachev. Oliveira is a former lightweight champion who remains one of the division’s elite fighters. His aggressive style and dangerous submission game would make for an explosive contest against Topuria. Both men have finishing abilities that could end the fight at any moment. A win over ‘Do Bronx’ would certainly strengthen Topuria’s case for a shot at Makhachev’s title later this year or early next year. Whatever Dana White announces in the coming weeks, one thing is certain. Ilia Topuria’s next fight will be must-see TV for MMA fans around the world!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Dana White

Ilia Topuria

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!