Ilia Topuria Set for Lightweight Pursuit Amid Featherweight Dominance

UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is considering a permanent move to the lightweight division, sparking a potential showdown with Alexander Volkanovski.

Topuria's coach, Jorge Climent, revealed that the champion is looking for his "last dance" and is open to facing top-ranked lightweights, including Dustin Poirier. Climent believes Topuria has an advantage over Poirier in both striking and ground game, citing the possibility of a highly anticipated matchup. The move to lightweight could be a significant blow to the 145-pound division, which is dominated by aging fighters, but Topuria's dominant performances in the featherweight division, including a knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski, are a strong foundation for his ambitions.

Topuria's decision to potentially move divisions has been met with mixed reactions, with top contenders like Diego Lopes proposing a fight for a vacant title, but the champion has made it clear that he will defend his title. Criticizing the weight-cutting process, Topuria expressed frustration with losing 40 pounds from his natural weight of 187 pounds, which could contribute to his decision to leave the division. Nonetheless, Topuria's aspirations have made him one of the most compelling champions in the UFC, leaving his next move uncertain.

The potential future of both the featherweight and lightweight divisions hangs in the balance as Topuria weighs his options, pitting fans' excitement for a highly anticipated matchup against the current dominance of the champion in the 145-pound division.