After months of drama surrounding Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev, UFC’s President Dana White finally announced the next fights and it was not what we expected. Makhachev was the reigning defending champion of the lightweight division, but was eager to become a double champ, hoping to become a welterweight champion too at the same time. However, as things turned out, Makhachev was forced to vacate his lightweight belt, in order to make a shift to the welterweight division, and face Jack Della Maddalena who took the belt away from Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.
On the other hand, Ilia Topuria was desperate for a shot at the lightweight title, and he finally got what he asked for. However, not everything went according to his plan. Topuria orginally planned to face Islam Makhachev for the strap, but the former lightweight champ’s camp and himself rejected the offer saying Topuria was just another lightweight fight. Makhachev simply doesn’t want to risk his legacy, facing another featherweight, since he has defended his title four times and three of those were against former featherweights.
Days after UFC 315 last month, Dana White announced that both Makhachev and Topuria are heading in different directions. The Russian will take on Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title. Meanwhile, Topuria will face Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title. Both these matchups will be exciting to watch, but nothing could have topped Topuria vs. Makhachev if that were to happen.
Although, the fight between Topuria and Makhachev will not happen anytime soon, fans have already started to wonder if the Georgian plans to make another division change in the future, if he were to win the lightweight title at UFC 317. Topuria previously stated that he is open to moving up to 170 pounds in the future, if the fans want him to. According to reports, Topuria reportedly walks around at 85 kgs (187 pounds) and he would not have any problems moving up. Moving up to welterweight also means that he could take on Islam Makhachev someday (if Makhachev beats JDM for the title).
While many fans are astounded by this idea, UFC Commentator, Jon Anik, is not a huge fan of Topuria potentially changing yet another division. “I just don’t see it. Now Islam Makhachev, I don’t know if he would have an appetite, no pun intended, to move back down to 155 pounds where he would no longer be the defending champion. But look at the welterweight rankings. Look at all the deserving top contender types. No. No. I mean with respect to the Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria fight and the magnitude of it, it can’t happen at 170 pounds. At some point, you know, clear minds need to intervene and recognize the body of work of all of these welterweight contenders right? I mean Ilia deserves the world but you can’t just hop divisions,” Anik said, emphasizing on the fact that Topuria’s already moved up a division and cannot simply switch weight classes time and time again.
For now, these are just hypothetical scenarios and we cannot say what the future holds for these two fighters. However, both these fighters have a tough task coming up for them, and a loss for either would mean a huge disappointment, and it would also undoubtedly put the moving up talks to rest.
nfl
