Ilia Topuria vacates featherweight title aiming for lightweight showdown
- Ilia Topuria confirmed his move from featherweight to lightweight following his title defense against Max Holloway.
- Dana White announced that in Topuria's absence, a vacant title match will take place at UFC 314 between Alex Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.
- This change signifies Topuria's desire to make a mark in the lightweight division and potentially face Islam Makhachev.
In early 2025, Ilia Topuria announced that he would vacate his UFC featherweight title and move up to the lightweight division. This decision followed his successful title defense against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October 2023, where Topuria secured a knockout win. UFC President Dana White confirmed that Topuria felt he had achieved all he could at featherweight and was unable to continue making the weight. The announcement leads to a vacant title match between Alex Volkanovski and Diego Lopes set for UFC 314 on April 12, 2025. Thus, the move aims to position Topuria for a potential blockbuster fight with reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who has been seen as a top contender in the division for some time. White elaborated on Topuria's rationale for the shift, describing it as a step to solidify his legacy within the organization. Topuria expressed confidence in his ability to compete at 155 pounds, clearly suggesting his ambitions of not only challenging for the lightweight title but also looking to make a significant impact against top-ranked opponents. Meanwhile, as Topuria transitions, the featherweight division braces for an exciting matchup between Volkanovski and Lopes, both of whom are highly capable fighters. UFC 314 promises an action-packed card for fans, marking the impactful changes happening within the organization as fighters make strategic decisions about their careers in pursuit of greatness.