It’s been decided. Ilia Topuria is no longer the UFC’s undisputed featherweight champion. After a stellar run at 145 lbs, and disposing of two legendary champs in his wake, ‘El Matador’ wants to move on, and up to lightweight. The caveat here, of course, is the fact that Topuria won’t be carrying his 145 lb strap with him. The other catch is the fact that he might not get an immediate shot at Islam Makhachev and the lightweight strap. Instead, the Spanish-Georgian might have to take on a top contender or two before competing for the 155-lb belt. And among those contenders is someone who moved up to lightweight much like ‘El Matador’. That man is Max Holloway.

In Ilia Topuria’s first title defense, ‘El Matador’ knocked out ‘Blessed’—a man known for his “granite chin”—ending Holloway’s three-fight win streak. Following this defeat, the Hawaiian decided to leave the featherweight division and make a permanent move to 155lbs. “I can honestly say I think I’m done with 145. Your boy is only getting older. I turn 33. This cut—no excuses. I had to give up ramen for my ’45 camps. So I’m done with that. I don’t ever want to give up ramen again. 155, here we come, and 155 is where I want to stay,” Holloway shared.

With Ilia Topuria moving into the lightweight division, many are now wondering if ‘The Pride of Hawaii’ will face another tough challenge. MMA on Point echoed this on X, which predicted, “Bold prediction!! Max Holloway has the belt again by the end of the year.” However, ‘Blessed’ quickly shut down any rumors, commenting on the tweet, “Nah fam, I’m done with that cut lol.” So, does this mean that we’ll get to see a rematch between ‘Blessed’ and ‘El Matador’? This could also set the stage for a BMF title showdown, which ‘El Matador’ badly wanted when he was up against Holloway at featherweight.

Max Holloway is no stranger to the lightweight division, having bounced between both the lightweight and featherweight divisions throughout his career. Most recently, the Hawaiian took on Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in a historic BMF title fight. In a grueling and fast-paced battle, ‘Blessed’ knocked out Gaethje in the fifth round.

But Ilia Topuria is no stranger to the lightweight division as well. In his fourth UFC appearance, he made his lightweight debut against Jai Herbert at UFC Fight Night 204. This new weight class proved a challenge for ‘El Matador’ as he was knocked down and almost finished in the first round before his wrestling saved him. However, in the second, he rallied back and landed a picture-perfect right hook off of a three-punch combo. This fight is a testament that Topuria can hang at lightweight.

Meanwhile, weight cutting has become one of the most significant challenges for UFC fighters, with some even facing hospitalization due to the extreme process. A notable example is Khabib Nurmagomedov, who had to withdraw from his 2017 fight against Tony Ferguson after complications from his weight cut. This issue also played a role in why Max Holloway never faced ‘The Eagle’ in 2018. As fighters age, their bodies become less capable of handling extreme weight cuts due to increased muscle mass, making the process even more difficult. A key reason behind Ilia Topuria’s decision to move up to the 155lbs division.

Dana White spills the reason behind Ilia Topuria’s move to 155lbs

“I see Ilia at 85 kilos, and he needs to be 66. We do a very big weight cut,” Ilia Topuria’s head coach, Jorge Climent, once revealed, highlighting the grueling toll of weight cutting on the featherweight champion. According to Climent, ‘El Matador’ had an easier time managing his weight in his early years, starting his career as a bantamweight at 61 kg. However, as he approaches 30, shedding the extra pounds to make the featherweight limit has become an increasingly daunting task.

UFC CEO Dana White recently echoed these concerns, confirming the Georgian-Spanish’s move to the lightweight division. During an ‘Instagram Live’ session, White addressed the situation, stating, “Topuria feels like he’s done all he can in that division. He believes he’s cemented his legacy, and his body simply cannot make the weight anymore. So, Topuria will be moving up to 155 pounds and vacating the featherweight title.” While this decision grants Topuria the opportunity to compete at a more comfortable weight, it also dashes his hopes of holding two titles simultaneously.

With the featherweight belt now vacant, a high-stakes showdown between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will determine the new champion. Meanwhile, anticipation is building as fans await an official announcement from Dana White and the UFC regarding Ilia Topuria’s first fight at 155 pounds. Among the top names in the division, could Max Holloway be drawn into the mix? The answers will unfold in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.