At UFC 314, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will fight for the vacant 145-pound featherweight title. The event, set for April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, will feature a huge shake-up as reigning champion Ilia Topuria officially moves up to lightweight. But why did ‘El Matador’ decide to vacate the title when his reign has been going perfectly well for him? Did he get an injury, or is he all set to face a new opponent? Well, Dana White has revealed the answer that will excite many.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the news on Wednesday, noting that Topuria has done everything he can in the featherweight category and would no longer fight at 145 pounds. He said, “Topuria has felt like he’s done all he can in that division, and he feels like he’s cemented his legacy, and his body cannot make the weight anymore. So Topuria will be moving up to 155 pounds and will be vacating the featherweight title.”
So what’s next for him? Who will he face? Well, the Spanish-Georgian’s switch to lightweight has already prompted widespread speculation. Ariel Helwani said that the UFC intends to match Topuria against Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title later this year, maybe as early as International Fight Week in June. This potential matchup would pit the No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter against the No. 1 ranked Makhachev, resulting in one of the year’s biggest fights.
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While Topuria leaves the featherweight division, the focus switches to Volkanovski vs. Lopes. Volkanovski is trying to reclaim his title after losing to Makhachev and Topuria in consecutive knockouts. Meanwhile, Lopes has been on a roll, winning five straight fights since his UFC debut setback. With a new champion secured at UFC 314, the featherweight division is all set for a new chapter. This is a developing story.
The post Islam Makhachev on 4 Month Notice as Real Reason Behind Ilia Topuria’s Featherweight Move Revealed by Dana White appeared first on EssentiallySports.
