.png)
Ilia Topuria, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, is gearing up for a significant career shift as he sets his sights on the lightweight division. Appearing on the Spanish program El Partidazo de COPE, Topuria revealed that his next chapter might begin at 155 pounds, and he already has a dream opponent in mind: former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
“I was talking about Miami, I don’t really know,” Topuria shared. “I don’t have an idea because I still have to have a couple of conversations, to talk about it and see how they see my future. But more or less, I have it quite clear how I want it to be and an idea that I want.”
While Topuria has long expressed interest in facing current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, he acknowledged the necessity of earning his way into title contention. With Makhachev slated to defend his belt against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 in January, Topuria believes Oliveira is the perfect first step in his lightweight journey.
Topuria’s decision to move up is not only fueled by championship aspirations but also by the increasingly difficult weight cuts to compete at 145 pounds. Reflecting on his evolution since debuting in the UFC in 2020, Topuria explained how his growing physique has made maintaining the featherweight limit more challenging.
“Maybe it’s time for a change,” Topuria said. “Now it’s time to enjoy, enjoy a little more of what I do. Not care so much about the weight cut. ... You grow, your body develops more, and it costs more and more to cut weight.”
Despite his plans to compete at lightweight, Topuria isn’t ruling out a return to featherweight if a compelling opponent like Movsar Evloev emerges. The undefeated Evloev, who recently defeated Aljamain Sterling, is a potential matchup Topuria could revisit in the future.
Having already tested the lightweight waters with a knockout win over Jai Herbert in 2022, Topuria is confident in his ability to thrive in the division.
“The truth is that I felt super comfortable with the process,” he said, highlighting the reduced strain of weight cutting and the opportunity to remain more active in the octagon.
As Topuria prepares to expand his legacy, a showdown with Oliveira could mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his UFC career.
コメント