Ilia Topuria pours cold water on Lightweight rumors – ‘Stop celebrating because I’m not going anywhere’

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Ilia Topuria isn’t abandoning the 145-pound division simply but.

Earlier this week, an interview clip circulated of Topuria explaining that his latest title protection in opposition to Max Holloway (watch it) can be his remaining struggle at Featherweight. Topuria has by no means been shy about his intentions to maneuver to Light-weight and flatten Islam Makhachev, and he even fought as soon as at 155-pounds already throughout his UFC rise.

Nonetheless, no one actually anticipated it to occur so quickly. There are many viable choices left at 145-pounds, together with however not restricted to an Alexander Volkanovski rematch, Diego Lopes slugfest, and scuffle of the undefeated versus Movsar Evloev. When Topuria’s coach co-signed the Light-weight transfer, it was fairly a shocking shake up that had the remainder of the division scrambling.

… or not. Earlier on Thursday, Topuria himself went on social media and clarified that he isn’t leaving his division simply but.

“I can’t depart the title vacant,” Topuria wrote on X. “The choice to maneuver as much as the following class is solely mine. I haven’t had any conversations with the UFC but, so every little thing remains to be to be determined. Cease celebrating as a result of I’m not going wherever. I’ve conquered my division and I’ll do the identical within the subsequent one.”

Based mostly on the above tweet, it seems like Topuria desires a double champ alternative with out abandoning his Featherweight crown. That’s going to take some negotiating whereas there are nonetheless harmful 145-pound contenders he has but to face. Whereas an eventual Light-weight transfer remains to be on the desk, odds are UFC nonetheless desires “El Matador” to deal with some Featherweight enterprise first.

We’ll have to attend and see what comes from Topuria’s subsequent UFC dialog to know extra.

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