Ilia Topuria's Return Date Is Set With 3 Potential Opponents: Report

The upcoming UFC championship fight will be for an undisputed or vacant title. Several scenarios are possible. Ilia Topuria, having vacated the featherweight title, may move up to challenge lightweight champion and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev.

This is arguably the biggest matchup in MMA right now, second only to a potential Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall bout. Makhachev has also expressed interest in moving up to welterweight; however, his close friend and training partner, Belal Muhammad, currently holds that title. Given their close relationship and the refusal of their team to fight each other, this scenario seems unlikely.

This dynamic suggests Makhachev will likely remain at lightweight—for now. While rumors circulate about Topuria facing Charles Oliveira or Arman Tsarukyan, a title fight against Makhachev appears the most logical next step. Topuria has previously dismissed Oliveira, suggesting that matchup might not be appealing.

Topuria's rapid rise in the UFC over the past year and a half, with impressive wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, solidified his position. His decision to vacate the featherweight belt anticipates his move to lightweight and a potential clash with Makhachev, although he suspects Khabib Nurmagomedov may try to steer his pupil away from this fight.

Topuria previously hinted at a surprise announcement, but nothing significant has materialized.

A Topuria-Makhachev fight would be a highly anticipated pound-for-pound title clash, with the victor undeniably claiming the crown. UFC 317 needs a major draw, and this matchup fits the bill perfectly.

Makhachev's aspirations complicate matters. While he's the top lightweight, he's expressed interest in a welterweight challenge. With Belal Muhammad holding the welterweight belt, a fight between them is improbable due to their close relationship. This makes staying at 155 pounds the most likely scenario for Makhachev—at least temporarily.

A future welterweight move for Makhachev remains a possibility, perhaps after a potential Muhammad title loss at UFC 316 against Jack Della Maddalena. Muhammad could also move up to middleweight.

The UFC's official announcement regarding Topuria's next fight is imminent and will be the most significant and eagerly awaited news in the UFC's upcoming fight schedule.

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