Like Achilles stepping onto the shores of Troy, Ilia Topuria’s march toward Islam Makhachev carries the weight of destiny. The undefeated Georgian-Spanish warrior moved through the featherweight ranks with the cold precision of Keyser Söze, leaving a trail of bodies that included the seemingly unbeatable duo of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. However, his conviction in calling his shot against the Dagestani juggernaut echoes Babe Ruth’s famous pointed finger before his home run or Muhammad Ali’s poetic prophecies. It is safe to say that the now former 145lbs champ is so certain of his fate that his predictions felt less like trash talk and more like reading from written script.

Despite Islam Makhachev’s initial reluctance to face the “smaller” Topuria, head honcho Dana White made a significant announcement on Wednesday evening, revealing that the ‘El Matador’ has vacated his featherweight title and moved up to the lightweight division. The news was likely a blow to Makhachev and his team, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, as Makhachev had previously dismissed the possibility of fighting ‘El Matador’, deeming it “unfair.”

Additionally, Makhachev believed that such a fight didn’t make sense for him—he had already achieved financial success and didn’t feel the need to fight another 145fer after slaying Alexander Volkanovski. Not once but twice! However, both Makhachev and Topuria share a goal of becoming two-division champions, a feat that even Khabib Nurmagomedov could not accomplish in his illustrious career.

The 155lbs champ eventually softened his stance on the potential fight, though he laid down one condition: ‘El Matador’ must first defend his featherweight title at least once before moving up to challenge for the lightweight belt. The 155lbs champ clarified, “Let him move up and earn his shot. We’ll definitely fight.”

Now, the question remains whether White will grant Topuria a direct title shot or require him to first face a contender—similar to how UFC previously handled Conor McGregor’s title shot, where he had to fight Nate Diaz (owing to Rafael dos Anjos’ pullout) before facing Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight strap.

Recently, Team Makhachev shared his updated view on the potential fight that could feed generations. Speaking to Red Corner MMA, Rizvan Magomedov, who weighed in on the discussion, suggested that: “Topuria vs Dustin/Charles should be a contender fight to prove he’s a legitimate lightweight. We don’t need to fight another ‘small featherweight.’ We need a big fight that makes sense for everyone. We already gave the long-reigning featherweight champ his chance.”

In just under four years with the UFC, Topuria has made an incredibly fast ascent. From fighting on the preliminary card to becoming a champion, defending his title once, and now vacating it—his rise has been extraordinary. By making the move to the lightweight division, the Georgian-Spaniard is now one step closer to following in the footsteps of UFC megastar Conor McGregor, a comparison that many fans and pundits have drawn due to Topuria’s tattoos, speech style, and overall presence.

Some, like Max Holloway, have even labeled Ilia Topuria a “copycat” and “wannabe” McGregor. But is that really the motivation behind ‘El Matador’s shift to 155lbs? Let’s hear Dana White’s thoughts on the matter for a clearer perspective.

Dana White reveals the reason behind Ilia Topuria’s move to lightweight

After slaying elite fighters like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Ilia Topuria believes there is no higher competition left for him in the UFC’s featherweight division, as stated by Dana White. “Topuria feels he’s accomplished everything he could in that division, cemented his legacy, and his body can no longer make the weight. Therefore, Topuria will be moving up to 155 pounds and vacating his featherweight title,” the UFC CEO announced during an Instagram Live session on Wednesday evening.

However, it’s not just about competition for Topuria. It is safe to say that the difficulty in making 145lbs has played a significant role in his decision. At 28, and with his 30s approaching, the Georgian-Spaniard’s body has changed, making it increasingly difficult for him to continue cutting weight to stay in the featherweight division.

According to his coach, Jorge Climent, Topuria began his career in the bantamweight division, but as his body has matured, particularly with “muscle production increasing” over time, the weight cuts have become harder. “I see Ilia at 85 kg, but he needs to be at 66,” Climent explained, underscoring the challenges of cutting weight as fighters grow older.

The spotlight is now on Dana White and the UFC. Do you believe Ilia Topuria has earned a direct shot at Islam Makhachev? With many considering him the “next big thing” or even a more refined version of Conor McGregor, do you think the UFC will bypass their usual protocol to give ‘El Matador’ this opportunity? Share your thoughts below!