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Summary
- Spanish broadcast leaked Topuria vs. Oliveira matchup at lightweight. No official confirmation from UFC yet.
- Topuria aims to become two-division champion but faces skepticism from Oliveira about moving up too soon.
- Makhachev considering move to welterweight, leaving Topuria’s lightweight title hopes in limbo with no official fight confirmation.
A surprising on-air blunder during the UFC
Vegas 105 broadcast has ignited speculation about Ilia Topuria’s future. A Spanish-language ticker seemingly leaked plans for Topuria to move up in weight and
face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira
.
While UFC officials have not confirmed the matchup is official, the rumor has caused a stir among fans eager to see what’s next for the undefeated Spanish-Georgian fighter. Meanwhile, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s strategic patience could further complicate Topuria’s title hopes.
Broadcast Blunder Suggests Topuria vs. Oliveira at Lightweight
Ilia Previously Named Oliveira As An Opponent He Would Consider
During the UFC Vegas 105 coverage on the Spanish broadcast, a ticker unexpectedly announced, “Ilia Topuria moves up a weight class and faces Charles Oliveira. The Spaniard will make his Lightweight debut.” The message quickly spread across social media, with fans and media outlets questioning whether the information had been released prematurely. According to a report by Alex Buhunin, UFC insiders have downplayed the leak, claiming that no official agreement has been made for the proposed fight.
Topuria recently captured the UFC featherweight title with a d
ominant performance over Alexander Volkanovski
at UFC 298. Since then, he has made it clear that his ambition lies in becoming a two-division champion. However, Charles Oliveira has cast doubt on the legitimacy of such a matchup. Speaking to MMA Fighting, Oliveira questioned the value of facing Topuria, saying the featherweight champion needs to earn his place at 155 pounds before challenging elite contenders. Topuria didn’t back down, replying, “I haven’t come here to ask anything. Here, I am the one in charge.”
Related
Ilia Topuria Names Two Opponents For His Next Fight At Lightweight
Ilia Topuria only has two opponents in mind for his UFC lightweight return.
Islam Makhachev Reportedly Waiting on Welterweight Title Picture
Adding another twist to the lightweight title race, reigning champion Islam Makhachev is reportedly waiting to see how the UFC 315 welterweight title fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena unfolds. According to MMA Mania, if Della Maddalena wins, Makhachev is open to moving up in weight to challenge for a second belt.
This development leaves Topuria in limbo, especially after he claimed the UFC promised him a lightweight title shot. But Makhachev appears reluctant to face another featherweight-turned-lightweight so soon after his dominant win over Volkanovski. With Oliveira hesitant, Makhachev possibly eyeing welterweight gold, and no official announcement yet, Topuria’s next move remains uncertain, despite the brief glimpse fans may have caught on live television.