Ilia Topuria stated that if he moves up to welterweight to fight Islam Makhachev, he will not be stripped of his lightweight title because he plans to continue defending the 145-pound belt. Topuria also expressed disappointment in Paddy Pimblett's performance against Gage, saying he knew Pimblett was a poor fighter but didn't realize the extent. Jiří Procházka revealed he can't let go of his recent loss even after his child's birth, claiming he was at 40-50% power due to injury and fought in sparring mode while waiting for the referee to stop the fight. Magomed Ankalaev, through his manager Abdel Aziz, challenged Khalil Rountree, saying Rountree doesn't need wrestling training with Chimaev because Ankalaev plans to deliver a 25-minute striking masterclass. The UFC announced several compelling matchups for hardcore fans, including pairing Cory Sandhagen with Merab Dvalishvili instead of Sean O'Malley.
Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has addressed speculation surrounding a potential move to lightweight, insisting he would not be stripped of his 145-pound title if he steps up to challenge Islam Makhachev.
Topuria, ranked number one in the pound-for-pound standings at just 29 years old, carries a 17-1 record and has established himself as one of the sport's most dangerous finishers. The Spain-based Georgian lands an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a threat in all areas. He made clear his intention to keep defending the featherweight belt regardless of any move upward in weight class.
Makhachev, the current welterweight champion and top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, presents a formidable obstacle at 28-1 for any challenger. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw is one of the most complete fighters in the sport, posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent and averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts in the same span.
Topuria also commented on Paddy Pimblett's recent performance, expressing that while he already viewed Pimblett as a limited fighter, the result against Gage revealed a greater lack of quality than he had anticipated.
Elsewhere, Jiří Procházka opened up about his latest defeat, revealing he competed at just 40 to 50 percent capacity due to injury and described his approach as a sparring session while waiting for the referee to intervene. His admission came even as he navigated the personal milestone of his child's birth.
In the light heavyweight division, Magomed Ankalaev sent a message to Khalil Rountree through manager Abdel Aziz, dismissing Rountree's wrestling preparations with Khamzat Chimaev and promising a 25-minute striking performance.
Why it matters
- Topuria's insistence on keeping the featherweight title complicates any potential two-division scenario with Makhachev
- A Makhachev vs. Topuria matchup would pit the top two pound-for-pound fighters against each other across a weight class jump
- The UFC's decision to book Cory Sandhagen, 18-6 and ranked third at bantamweight, against Merab Dvalishvili rather than Sean O'Malley reshapes the division's title picture
