Dana White and Ilia Topuria are aligned in their aspirations for UFC 317, scheduled for June 28 in Las Vegas. During a recent appearance on the Spanish show El Hormiguero, Topuria expressed his anticipation for his next fight, which he hopes will be against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or top contender Charles Oliveira.
Topuria’s potential matchup is intricately connected to the main event at UFC 315, featuring Makhachev’s close associate Belal Muhammad defending his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena. If Della Maddalena manages to secure an upset victory, Makhachev may shift up to the welterweight division to challenge him. However, if Makhachev retains his title, he would likely contend with Topuria, who has recently vacated his featherweight championship title to pursue new opportunities in the lightweight category.
During a Thursday press conference in Montreal, Dana White confirmed Topuria’s plans, stating, “Yeah, there’s a lot of moving parts right now and yeah, that’s pretty accurate.” While he refrained from providing details on whether a bout between Topuria and Oliveira would be for an interim or vacant lightweight title, White’s acknowledgment aligns with previous comments indicating that Makhachev might not necessarily be Topuria’s first opponent upon his move to 155 pounds.
Furthermore, Topuria had previously noted that the UFC had promised him a title fight, although he was uncertain about his opponent’s identity at the time. The outcome of the upcoming Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena matchup will likely have significant implications across multiple divisions, increasing the stakes as fans await the event.
Both fighters and fans are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, suggesting that June 28 could mark a pivotal moment in the careers of both Topuria and the lightweight division as a whole.