Ilia Topuria says that no matter what his subsequent transfer is, it received’t contain vacating the UFC featherweight title.
The Georgian-Spaniard, who the 145-pound title earlier this 12 months with a knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski earlier than defending it in late October, has indicated a powerful need to maneuver to 155-pounds in pursuit of a title bout with champion Islam Makhachev — a transfer which, it was speculated, would possibly contain him relinquishing his personal world title.
In a put up to social media late on Thursday, Topuria defined that any potential transfer up a division has but to be determined and that formal discussions haven’t but been held with the UFC. To notice, UFC brass — and specifically Dana White — are sometimes hesitant to permit the organisation’s champions to struggle exterior of their division.
“I can’t depart the title vacant,” wrote Topuria on the social platform beforehand often called Twitter.
“The choice to maneuver as much as the subsequent class is totally mine. I haven’t had any conversations with the UFC but, so all the things continues to be to be determined. Cease celebrating as a result of I’m not going wherever. I’ve conquered my division and I’ll do the identical within the subsequent one.”
However whereas Topuria has mooted the concept of combating Charles Oliveira to determine his credentials at 155-pounds, it leaves a level of uncertainty at featherweight with the likes of Volkanovksi, Diego Lopes and the unbeaten Mosvar Evloev jockeying for place to be the subsequent title challenger.
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