Ilia Topuria appears to have secured a high-profile showdown for his next Octagon outing.
Last month, Topuria shocked the MMA world by vacating his UFC featherweight title, opting to test himself in the lightweight division in pursuit of becoming a two-division champion.
As a result, former champion Alexander Volkanovski is set to face Diego Lopes for the vacant title in the UFC 314 main event on April 12 at Miami’s Kaseya Center.
UFC CEO Dana White announced that "El Matador" opted to compete in a higher weight class, believing he had already dominated the featherweight division while also facing the relentless challenge of cutting down to 145 pounds.
Despite Topuria's persistent desire to challenge reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, his first opponent in the division has yet to be revealed. However, the undefeated Spaniard publicly addressed his fans on Thursday for the first time since vacating his championship and teased that he has an announcement in the works, one he believes will leave his fans utterly amazed.
"When we announce it, you won't believe it. Get ready," Ilia Topuria wrote on X.
"El Matador" was last seen in action at UFC 308 last October, where he made history as the first fighter to ever knock out Max Holloway, successfully defending his featherweight title in the process. Prior to that, he knocked out Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024 to capture the championship.
Ilia Topuria currently sports an unblemished 8-0 record in the UFC and an overall perfect 16-0 mark, including six knockout victories and eight submission triumphs.