UFC champ Topuria 'likely' done at featherweight, eyes Oliveira

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria could be moving on from the division for good.

Topuria said he wants to move up to lightweight in his next fight and face former champion Charles Oliveira.

“We need to talk about it (with the UFC) and take a look at my future, but for me, it's very clear how I want to do it," Topuria told Spanish radio program El Partidazo de COPE, according to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn. "I'd like to move up to the next weight class. And since Islam (Makhachev) is the champion (and is) fighting in January (against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311), and he won't be ready for April or May, I'd like to fight against the No. 1 contender right now, who's Charles Oliveira."

When asked if the change in weight classes means he could vacate the 145-pound title, Topuria nodded.

"Maybe there's a change coming," Topuria said. "Yes, very likely (you saw my last fight at featherweight)."

The 27-year-old Georgian-Spaniard captured the featherweight title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February, and he defended it for the first time with a knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October.

Topuria was expected to defend his belt next in a rematch against Volkanovski sometime in 2025.

"El Matador" has competed at 155 pounds in the UFC once before, knocking out Jai Herbert in his fourth Octagon bout back in March 2022.

Oliveira, ranked No. 2 in the lightweight division, is expected to challenge the winner of Makhachev-Tsarukyan, which is scheduled to take place Jan. 18 in Los Angeles.