Dana White and Ilia Topuria are on the identical web page relating to their UFC 317 plans.
On Thursday, Topuria appeared on Spanish program El Hormiguero, the place he mentioned his expectation that his subsequent struggle will likely be in opposition to light-weight champion Islam Makhachev or prime contender Charles Oliveira.
Topuria’s destiny is presumably tied to the principle occasion of UFC 315, which sees Makhachev’s shut good friend Belal Muhammad defending his welterweight title in opposition to Jack Della Maddalena. Ought to Della Maddalena pull off an upset win, Makhachev is prone to transfer as much as 170 kilos to problem him; in any other case, Makhachev possible defends in opposition to Topuria, who not too long ago vacated his featherweight championship to chase a second title.
UFC CEO Dana White was requested about Topuria’s feedback at Thursday’s press convention in Montreal and he confirmed that the plan is for “El Matador” to struggle both Makhachev or Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas.
“Yeah, there’s loads of transferring components proper now and yeah, that’s fairly correct,” White mentioned. He didn’t elaborate, so it stays to be seen if a struggle between Topuria and Oliveira could be for an interim or vacant light-weight title in Makhachev’s absence.
White and Topuria’s newest feedback are in step with statements they’ve made up to now, with White saying this previous February that Makhachev was not assured to be Topuria’s first opponent in his transfer to 155 kilos. In March, Topuria claimed the UFC had promised him a title struggle, however he was uncertain of who the opponent could be.
All eyes are actually on Saturday’s essential occasion, as the results of Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena will clearly have ripple results in a couple of division.
