Dana White reveals reason behind Ilia Topuria’s shock move to vacate UFC title and what comes next

Topuria aims to move up to 155lb and challenge Islam Makhachev, leaving Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to clash over the vacant 145lb belt

Dana White confirmed the shock announcement that Ilia Topuria will vacate his UFC featherweight title before moving up to lightweight – potentially for a blockbuster fight with Islam Makhachev.

The Georgian and Spanish fighter, who knocked out Max Holloway last October at UFC 308, will now move up to the 155lb limit, leaving former champion Alex Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to fight for the vacant belt at UFC 314 on 12 April.

The stunning announcement from White comes after speculation surrounding Topuria’s future, with the 28-year-old calling out the widely considered pound-for-pound No 1 last month.

“Islam, if I want to, I can finish you. If I want to, I can knock you out,” Topuria said on social media after the lightweight titleholder’s win at UFC 311 against Renato Moicano. “I’ll make it look easy. See you soon [winks].”

And White detailed the thought process behind the decision and the next steps in a seismic late-night announcement on social media: “Topuria felt like he's done all that he can in that division and he feels like he cemented his legacy and his body cannot make the weight anymore.

“So Topuria will be moving up to 155lb, and will be vacating the featherweight title.

“So the way that this works is as soon as the first punch was thrown in this fight, the title will be vacant and we'll announce what Topuria's next fight will be when it gets done.”

Topuria is set to move up to lightweight, potentially challenging champion Islam Makhachev (EPA)

“As crazy as it sounds, I hope Ilia goes up to [155lb]. I really do,” UFC personality Joe Rogan said earlier this month. “Volkanovski vs Lopes [at] 145, Ilia goes up to ‘55. I don’t care if he only defended the title one time or didn’t, who cares? Let’s go. Let’s f***ing go.

“It’d be nice [to see him fight some of the other contenders at featherweight] but also who cares? Let’s go. Let’s f***ing go.”

White then revealed a stacked card for UFC 314, including Volkanovski vs Lopes as the main event and Paddy Pimblett facing Michael Chandler in a five-round co-main event.

Yair Rodriguez battles UFC debutant Patricio Pitbull in a featherweight bout after Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates lock horns in a welterweight contest. Nikita Krylov vs Dominick Reyes, Dan Ige vs Sean Woodson, Yan Xiaonan vs Virna Jandiroba and Jim Miller vs Chase Hooper complete the card.

UFC 314 bout list

Alexander Volkanovski will aim to become a two-time featherweight champion (Getty Images)

Alex Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes (vacant featherweight title)

Michael Chandler vs Paddy Pimblett (lightweight, five rounds)

Yair Rodriguez vs Patricio Pitbull (featherweight)

Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates (welterweight)

Nikita Krylov vs Dominick Reyes (light-heavyweight)

Dan Ige vs Sean Woodson (featherweight)

Yan Xiaonan vs Virna Jandiroba (women’s strawweight)

Jim Miller vs Chase Hooper (lightweight)

Darren Elkins vs Julian Erosa (featherweight)

Sedriques Dumas vs Michał Oleksiejczuk (middleweight)

Su Mudaerji vs Mitch Raposo (flyweight)

Alberto Montes vs Roberto Romero (featherweight)