{"id":61438,"date":"2025-06-06T17:13:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=61438"},"modified":"2025-06-06T17:14:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:14:01","slug":"jon-anik-doubts-ilia-topuria-will-vacate-another-division-to-face-islam-makhachev","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/jon-anik-doubts-ilia-topuria-will-vacate-another-division-to-face-islam-makhachev\/","title":{"rendered":"Jon Anik Doubts Ilia Topuria Will Vacate Another Division to Face Islam Makhachev"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After months of drama surrounding Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev, UFC&rsquo;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. <\/p><p>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&rsquo;s camp and himself rejected the offer saying Topuria was just another lightweight fight. Makhachev simply doesn&rsquo;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. <\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ilia Topuria is asked if he'd consider moving up to 170:<br><br>\"Of course, why not? It depends, if the fans want to see me fight at welterweight, and there's a champion the company has at the moment, why not?<br><br>I fight to entertain people. Obviously, I also have to be motivated by the&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jPOR4lGz9n\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>pic.twitter.com\/jPOR4lGz9n<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChampRDS\/status\/1923020384682619281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>May 15, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure><p>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. <\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Anik&rsquo;s Skepticism on Topuria&rsquo;s Multi-Division Ambitions<\/h2><p>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). <\/p><p>While many fans are astounded by this idea, UFC Commentator, Jon Anik, is not a huge fan of Topuria potentially changing yet another division. <strong><em>&ldquo;I just don&rsquo;t see it. Now Islam Makhachev, I don&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;t just hop divisions,&rdquo;<\/em><\/strong> Anik said, emphasizing on the fact that Topuria&rsquo;s already moved up a division and cannot simply switch weight classes time and time again.<\/p><blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKiaZ-SyN9Z\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKiaZ-SyN9Z\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKiaZ-SyN9Z\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"trk-cta-link\" data-cta-trk='{\"ctaType\":\"Link\",\"ctaSubType\":\"main\"}'>A post shared by Submission Radio (@submissionradio)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><p>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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mm-layout mm-layout-type-post mm-layout-slot4\">\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After months of drama surrounding Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev, UFC&rsquo;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. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":61443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mux_skip_reasons":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1783],"tags":[1963,1821,2481,1983],"class_list":["post-61438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mma","tag-ilia-topuria","tag-islam-makhachev","tag-jon-anik","tag-ufc"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Jon Anik Doubts Ilia Topuria Will Vacate Another Division to Face Islam Makhachev - The Playoffs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Jon Anik expresses doubt over Ilia Topuria vacating the lightweight title to chase a welterweight bout against Islam Makhachev.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/jon-anik-doubts-ilia-topuria-will-vacate-another-division-to-face-islam-makhachev\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jon Anik Doubts Ilia Topuria Will Vacate Another Division to Face Islam Makhachev - 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