Ilia Topuria, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, has fans buzzing with anticipation after a cryptic Instagram post hinted at 'big news coming soon'. With an eight-month hiatus from competition, Topuria's return is highly anticipated, especially given his recent personal challenges, including addressing false allegations of domestic abuse. The fighter's next move is a topic of much speculation, as he aims to continue his dominance in the octagon.
Topuria's prowess is undeniable, having already conquered the featherweight division with victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. His move to the 155-pound division was a success, knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Now, the 29-year-old is eyeing an even greater challenge, expressing a desire to face welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, who recently defended his title against Jack Della Maddalena. The idea of a Topuria-Makhachev superfight has been teased by Makhachev's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, but no concrete plans have been announced yet.
However, the path to this potential showdown is not without obstacles. Kamaru Usman, another of Abdelaziz's clients, has ruled out a fight with Makhachev, and Ian Machado Garry's potential title shot has been denied. Topuria's next opponent is expected to be one of three prominent lightweight challengers: Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, or Charles Oliveira, who will face off in the main event of UFC 326. The anticipation surrounding Topuria's future moves continues to grow, leaving fans eager to see what the champion has in store next.
