Ilia Topuria, the former UFC Featherweight champion, has seemingly announced his next fight date. After vacating the Featherweight title, Topuria has been adamant about getting a shot at the Lightweight strap.
Topuria last fought at UFC 308, knocking out Max Holloway in the third round. Holloway had never been knocked out before.
MMA Netizens React to Ilia Topuria’s Massive Update
Dana White has not yet announced the main event for the International Fight Week PPV, UFC 317. However, he had ruled out Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, likely to make them headline the PPV in Abu Dhabi later this year.
Ilia Topuria has recently confirmed that he will be fighting in UFC 317. Topuria was recently awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Second of May by the Community of Madrid, but couldn’t attend the function in person.
As such, he thanked the Community of Madrid through a video: “I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you, but I have my preparations ahead of me. I hope to make you all happy again on June 28, and that’s it. Happy Community of Madrid Day. Have a great time.” (Translated from Spanish)
Fight fans shared their feelings about the matter on X.
A fan hoped that Ilia Topuria would not fight the pound-for-pound king, writing: “Please, anybody but Islam.”
Please anybody but Islam.
— HurtsDaGoat (@HurtsDaGoat2) May 2, 2025
“I will be very happy!” a fan expressed happiness.
I will be very happy!
— Mouhannad (@Mouhann60883611) May 2, 2025
“We will be very happy,” another fan seconded the thought.
We will be very happy 🥇
— Jean Silva couldn’t defend his Mother (@topurialt) May 2, 2025
“Just f*****g announce it already, makes no sense we got ufc 318 main event before 317,” a fan lamented. Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway III was recently revealed to be the main event of UFC 318.
“100 lightweights cannot beat 1 La Layenda,” a fan commented, siding with Topuria.
Conor McGregor caught strays as a fan wrote: “Ilia Topuria is everything Conor McGregor can never be.”
Ex-MMA Champion Shares Why Islam Makhachev Should Fight Ilia Topuria
Daniel Cormier, the former two-division UFC champion, vehemently defended Islam Makhachev for his apparent disinterest in fighting Ilia Topuria. It’s expected, considering “DC” being a close friend and ex-teammate of the Lightweight champion.
However, Cormier’s co-host on the Funky and the Champ show, Ben Askren, believes that Topuria should fight Makhachev.
“Islam has beat almost all over the field, maybe except Arman. But given what just happened with Arman, I don’t think they want to give Arman the shot again,” Askren said. “So that makes perfect sense for Ilia to pop in, given the fact that he is a champion, he is undefeated, he has defeated two legends in a row. I don’t see how you deny him the title shot,” he added.
Nonetheless, Cormier asserts that a victory over Topuria won’t help build Makhachev’s legacy. He pointed out the negative feedback Makhachev got from a section of fight fans after defeating Alexander Volkanovski, a Featherweight.