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

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Major Shuffle In UFC Featherweight Division As Ilia Topuria Vacates Title!

Ilia Topuria vacates UFC Featherweight title, sparking a major shake-up in the UFC featherweight division!

The UFC‘s featherweight division has been a rollercoaster of excitement since Jose Aldo first defended the belt back in 2011. From Conor McGregor’s 13-second shocker to Max Holloway’s reign of terror and Alexander Volkanovski’s era of dominance, the division has never lacked drama. Now, another massive shake-up has hit the 145-pound weight class.

Recently crowned champion Ilia Topuria, who stunned the world by dethroning Volkanovski just last year at UFC 298, has decided to vacate his title and move up to lightweight. The last time we saw such a quick title vacancy was when Conor McGregor stepped away from the featherweight crown.

“Topuria has felt like he’s done all he can in that division, and he feels like he’s cemented his legacy, and his body cannot make the weight anymore. So Topuria will be moving up to 155 pounds and will be vacating the featherweight title,” said Dana White.

Dana White says Ilia Topuria is vacating his UFC title because "he's done all he can in that division" and can no longer make the featherweight limit. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/TWjD3PGHGN
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 20, 2025

The rumor is that Islam Makhachev will be Topuria’s next opponent for International Fight Week 2025. However, none of this has been confirmed yet.

Also Read: Caio Borralho Urges Alex Pereira To Spare Him His ‘Prey’ In His Division!

Volkanovski Gets Another Shot at Gold

The UFC isn’t wasting any time filling the championship void. Dana White has announced that former champ Alexander Volkanovski will face the red-hot Diego Lopes for the vacant title at UFC 314 in Miami. Volkanovski, who hasn’t fought since losing his belt to Topuria 14 months ago, gets a chance to reclaim his throne. Meanwhile, Lopes has been tearing through the division like a tornado. He has won five straight fights including a dominant victory over Brian Ortega.

“Happy you’re getting the opportunity to fight for the belt, but I’m still here. You ain’t having it. Sorry mate,” said Volkanovski recently after the fight announcement.

Alexander Volkanovski sends a message to Diego Lopes:

“Happy you’re getting the opportunity to fight for the belt, but I’m still here. You ain’t having it. Sorry mate.” 👀🔥

🎥 @alexvolkanovski #UFC314 pic.twitter.com/338CHLOQ9M
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 20, 2025

The card is shaping up to be a featherweight feast, with former Bellator champ Patricio Pitbull making his UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez on the same night. In the co-main event, Michael Chandler returns to face the undefeated-in-UFC Paddy Pimblett in what promises to be five rounds of chaos.

What makes this situation particularly interesting is how it mirrors the lightweight division’s recent history. Champions moving up in weight has become something of a trend in the UFC. Topuria’s decision to vacate without attempting this feat shows he’s serious about his future at 155 pounds. Plus, it seems that weight cutting has been a real issue for the Spaniard.

With hungry contenders like Lopes emerging and veterans like Volkanovski refusing to fade away, the featherweight division seems poised for another exciting chapter. Fans just hope whoever wins the belt at UFC 314 sticks around long enough!

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

Alexander Volkanovksi

Diego Lopes

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

UFC 314

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!