Ilia Topuria expressed disappointment in Paddy Pimblett's performance against Gage, saying he knew Pimblett was a poor fighter but didn't realize how bad. Topuria revealed that if he moves up to welterweight to fight Islam Makhachev, he will not be stripped of the lightweight title because he plans to continue defending the 145-pound belt. Jiří Procházka says he can't let go of his recent loss even after the birth of his child, claiming he was operating at 40-50% capacity after his injury and fighting in sparring mode while waiting for the referee to intervene. Magomed Ankalaev (via Abdel Aziz) issued a callout to Khalil Rountree, saying Rountree has been training wrestling with Khamzat Chimaev but won't need it, promising to deliver a 25-minute striking masterclass if Rountree can last that long. The UFC announced several fights for hardcore fans and made life harder for Cory Sandhagen by matching him with Batista instead of O'Malley.
Ilia Topuria has addressed the possibility of moving up to welterweight to face Islam Makhachev, confirming he would not be stripped of the lightweight title if that fight were to happen, as he intends to keep defending the 155-pound belt regardless.
Topuria, 29, carries a 17-1 record and currently sits at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings despite competing at lightweight, where he is ranked second in the division. The Spanish-Georgian fighter lands an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and adds 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes to his offensive arsenal. He also took a pointed shot at Paddy Pimblett following Pimblett's recent performance against Gage, saying he already knew Pimblett was a poor fighter but was surprised by just how underwhelming the showing was.
Makhachev, meanwhile, has transitioned to welterweight and currently holds the title there. The 34-year-old Russian operates out of a southpaw stance and boasts a 28-1 record, combining elite grappling — 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts in the same span — with a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
Elsewhere, light heavyweight Jiří Procházka opened up about his inability to move past his most recent defeat, saying the arrival of his child has not eased the burden. He claimed he was functioning at just 40 to 50 percent capacity due to injury and described his approach as closer to sparring than competing, waiting on the referee rather than pushing the pace. Magomed Ankalaev, through manager Abdel Aziz, called out Khalil Rountree and promised a 25-minute striking clinic, dismissing the wrestling Rountree has reportedly been sharpening alongside Khamzat Chimaev.
Why it matters
- Topuria retaining the featherweight belt while campaigning at welterweight would be an unprecedented two-division situation in the UFC
- Makhachev at welterweight opens a blockbuster matchup that would cross two championship lineages
- Cory Sandhagen, ranked third at bantamweight with an 18-6 record, was matched against Batista rather than a title-contending bout, complicating his path toward Sean O'Malley
