Following an exceptional 2024 in which Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) won and then defended the UFC featherweight title, UFC President Dana White recently announced that the Georgian-Spanish star is set to move up a weight class and join the 155 pound division..
Having knocked out both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway last year, two of the most decorated champions in UFC history, "El Matador" came to the conclusion that there are no more challenges awaiting him at 145 pounds.
“Topuria has felt like he’s done all he can in that division, and he feels like he’s cemented his legacy, and his body cannot make the weight anymore,” White said on Instagram Live last month. “So Topuria will be moving up to 155 pounds and will be vacating the featherweight title".
It remains to be seen whether Topuria will be granted an immediate title shot against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), or if he will have to face one of the other big names at the top end of the rankings in order to earn a shot at the belt.
Former UFC Champion Disagrees With Topuria's Decision
While Topuria believes his work is done in the featherweight division, one former UFC champion doesn't agree with that assertion.
Matt Serra (11-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC), who beat Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69 back in 2007 to become UFC welterweight champion, believes there is still work for Topuria to do at 145 pounds.
"I think it's going to be interesting to see him at 155", Serra said this week during an appearance on OverDogs Podcast. "I would have liked to have seen him at 145 a little bit more because I feel like he had some big wins, obviously, with Volkanovski and Max Holloway, but I think it might be a little premature to go up.
"Not that he couldn't do it. I'm sure he could do it, but why not be a savage and clear out that division even more? You got Diego Lopes. You got all the guys down there that are dangerous. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know. I would have liked to have seen him fight there a little more"
