Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are now officially set to battle for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 on June 28 during International Fight Week. With Islam Makhachev vacating the belt and moving up to welterweight,

After Belal Muhammad was dethroned by Jack Della Maddalena, Dagestani star Islam Makhachev had no hesitation moving up a weight class. In pursuit of a second belt, Makhachev vacated his lightweight title. Meanwhile, Spain’s Ilia Topuria — also chasing double-champ status — will now get his shot at lightweight gold this summer.

A UFC legend does not see why Islam Makhachev would come back down to lightweight to fight Ilia Topuria, if he becomes champ at 170.

The UFC Featherweight Champion moving up to the lightweight division is one of the more captivating storylines of 2025. After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway back-to-back, Topuria relinquished his world title earlier this year on the UFC’s promise that he’d be fighting for the 155lb title.

Belal Muhammad's UFC 315 loss may have ruined plans for an Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria superfight, claims his manager.

Many MMA fanatics are currently awaiting news from UFC CEO Dana White regarding Ilia Topuria’s next fight and the future of the promotion’s lightweight division. White has stated that he will soon share updates regarding Topuria and the UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev,