Topuria says he'd keep featherweight title after Makhachev fight at welterweight

Ilia Topuria believes he can move up to welterweight to fight Islam Makhachev and still retain his featherweight championship. The Georgian champion stated that if he goes up to welterweight, things will be different because he plans to return to the lightweight division after that bout. This suggests Topuria is considering a jump of two weight classes to face the lightweight champion. He appears confident that temporarily competing at welterweight would not cost him his featherweight belt. No timeframe or official plans for such a fight were mentioned in the statement.