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Dana White confirmed the shock announcement that Ilia Topuria will vacate his UFC featherweight title earlier than transferring as much as light-weight – probably for a blockbuster combat with Islam Makhachev.
The Georgian and Spanish fighter, who knocked out Max Holloway last October at UFC 308, will now transfer as much as the 155lb restrict, leaving former champion Alex Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to combat for the vacant belt at UFC 314 on 12 April.
The beautiful announcement from White comes after hypothesis surrounding Topuria’s future, with the 28-year-old calling out the extensively considered pound-for-pound No 1 final month.
“Islam, if I need to, I can end you. If I need to, I can knock you out,” Topuria mentioned on social media after the light-weight titleholder’s win at UFC 311 in opposition to Renato Moicano. “I’ll make it look simple. See you quickly [winks].”
And White detailed the thought course of behind the choice and the subsequent steps in a seismic late-night announcement on social media: “Topuria felt like he is executed all that he can in that division and he looks like he cemented his legacy and his physique can’t make the load anymore.
“So Topuria will likely be transferring as much as 155lb, and will likely be vacating the featherweight title.
“So the way in which that this works is as quickly as the primary punch was thrown on this combat, the title will likely be vacant and we’ll announce what Topuria’s subsequent combat will likely be when it will get executed.”
“As loopy because it sounds, I hope Ilia goes as much as [155lb]. I actually do,” UFC character Joe Rogan mentioned earlier this month. “Volkanovski vs Lopes [at] 145, Ilia goes as much as ‘55. I don’t care if he solely defended the title one time or didn’t, who cares? Let’s go. Let’s f***ing go.
“It’d be good [to see him fight some of the other contenders at featherweight] but in addition who cares? Let’s go. Let’s f***ing go.”
White then revealed a stacked card for UFC 314, together with Volkanovski vs Lopes as the primary occasion and Paddy Pimblett difficult Michael Chandler in a co-main occasion.
Yair Rodriguez battles UFC debutant Patricio Pitbull in a featherweight bout after Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates lock horns in a welterweight contest. Nikita Krylov vs Dominick Reyes, Dan Ige vs Sean Woodson, Yan Xiaonan vs Virna Jandiroba and Jim Miller vs Chase Hooper full the cardboard.
UFC 314 bout listing
Alex Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes – vacant featherweight title, 145lb
Michael Chandler vs Paddy Pimblett – 155lb
Yair Rodriguez vs Patricio Pitbull – 145lb
Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates – 170lb
Nikita Krylov vs Dominick Reyes – 205lb
Dan Ige vs Sean Woodson – 145lb
Yan Xiaonan vs Virna Jandiroba – 115lb
Jim Miller vs Chase Hooper – 155lb
Darren Elkins vs Julian Erosa – 145lb
Sedriques Dumas vs Michał Oleksiejczuk – 185lb
Su Mudaerji vs Mitch Raposo – 125lb
Alberto Montes vs Roberto Romero – 145lb
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