Dana White’s confirmation
Ilia Topuria, the former featherweight champion, is making waves with his move to lightweight, and let’s be real, it’s giving us all the feels with Dana White confirming Topuria’s next fight could be against either Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
The stakes at UFC 315
Tomorrow’s UFC 315’s main event between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena isn’t just another title fight; it’s a pivot point for Topuria’s future. A win for Della Maddalena could see Makhachev moving up to welterweight, leaving the lightweight title picture wide open. It’s like a game of musical chairs, but with more punches and less sitting down.
Topuria’s title aspirations
Topuria isn’t just chasing any fight; he’s eyeing the lightweight gold. His confidence isn’t unfounded, given his unbeaten record and recent dominance. But facing either Makhachev or Oliveira is a tall order. Makhachev’s grappling is next level, and Oliveira’s striking is as sharp as they come. It’s the classic striker vs. grappler dilemma, but with more tattoos.
White’s acknowledgment of Topuria’s next fight being against either Makhachev or Oliveira adds fuel to the fire. However, the UFC CEO remained coy about the specifics, especially concerning the title’s status. Will it be for the undisputed title, or will an interim belt be on the line? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the lightweight division is anything but boring.
Topuria’s potential leap to lightweight isn’t unprecedented. Fighters moving up in weight for a second title is a tale as old as time, but doing so against the likes of Makhachev or Oliveira? That’s a whole different ball game. It’s like deciding to run a marathon and then finding out it’s all uphill!
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