Ilia Topuria is on the verge of his next fight being officially announced. However, when it comes to fan opinion, one potential opponent is significantly more exciting than the other.
Since vacating his featherweight championship in February, Topuria has been awaiting confirmation on whether his next bout will be for the lightweight title and against whom. According to recent statements from Topuria and UFC CEO Dana White, he is anticipated to headline UFC 317 on June 28, potentially facing either the lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, or top contender Charles Oliveira.
This situation is complicated by the upcoming UFC 315 event this Saturday. Islam Makhachev`s close friend and training partner, Belal Muhammad, is scheduled to defend his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena. If Della Maddalena is successful and dethrones Muhammad, it`s speculated that this could clear a path for Makhachev to move up in weight and challenge Della Maddalena. Should Makhachev pursue the welterweight division, Topuria would likely then face Charles Oliveira instead, potentially for a vacant or interim lightweight championship.
The outcome of the UFC 315 main event adds a fascinating layer of uncertainty to Topuria`s future fight. Fans, however, are expressing varied opinions on which potential matchup is the best outcome for the fighters involved and the overall fight card.
Marcus Blakely