UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that Ilia Topuria is being lined up for a high-stakes lightweight bout at UFC 317, scheduled for June 28 in Las Vegas. The former featherweight champion is set to face either reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or top-ranked contender Charles Oliveira in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.
White addressed Ilia Topuria’s recent comments during a press conference on Thursday, following the fighter’s appearance on the Spanish talk show El Hormiguero. During the interview, Topuria revealed his expectation to face either Makhachev or Oliveira in his next fight. White responded, saying, “Yeah, there’s a lot of moving parts right now and yeah, that’s pretty accurate.”
Although White didn’t confirm whether the fight would be for the official title, an interim belt, or a contender eliminator—depending on Makhachev’s availability—fans are eagerly awaiting the official announcement.
Ilia Topuria, who vacated his featherweight title earlier this year to pursue a second championship in the lightweight division, has long expressed his desire to compete at 155 pounds. This highly anticipated clash at UFC 317 will mark his lightweight debut, and many are excited to see how he fares against the division’s elite.
Topuria’s next move could be influenced by the outcome of UFC 315, where Makhachev’s teammate, Belal Muhammad, will defend the welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena. A win for Della Maddalena could potentially push Makhachev into the welterweight division, paving the way for a Topuria-Oliveira showdown at lightweight.
While the UFC has yet to announce the official UFC 317 main event, all signs point to Ilia Topuria stepping into the lightweight spotlight, either against Makhachev or Oliveira. This matchup would mark his bid to become a two-division champion—something Topuria has publicly stated was promised by the UFC.
The outcome of UFC 315 is expected to have significant implications for the lightweight and welterweight divisions, shaping the title picture heading into the summer.
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