Now they’re saying Ilia Topuria might not get a crack at Islam Makhachev’s lightweight title, at least not right away. “They,” in this case, being UFC CEO Dana White, who was asked about it after Saturday’s UFC Seattle event.
“There’s still other possibilities,” White said. “There’s a lot of s*** going on right now, otherwise I would’ve said…”
The ellipses here are to indicate a natural trail off. But what White meant was that he would’ve said the fight was happening when he dumped a lordly pile of fight announcements on Wednesday night, in which he let the world know that Diego Lopes would take on Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title.
The vacated featherweight title, by the way. It wasn’t the UFC’s decision to strip Topuria of the title or to strong arm him into an ultimatum.
“No, he did that,” White clarified. “He said, ‘I’ve done everything I can do here, I’m ready to move up.’ And he vacated it. He said, ‘I shouldn’t be holding up anybody’s opportunities.’ I respect when guys do that.”
Asked if he thought Topuria had, in fact, done enough at 145 pounds, White steered it back to the Topuria point-of-view rather than give his own.
“I think that he felt that he’d done everything, with the guys that he beat,” he said. “If you look at who he beat and how he beat them, right? And I don’t think he loved making that weight anymore.”
It’s that last part that obscures the laws of inevitability, at least when it comes to any sense of entitlement for a champion who’s moving on up. Not wanting to make the weight isn’t the greatest ransom note for broader riches. Still, it was just assumed that if Topuria was truly hell-bent on trying his hand at 155 pounds, that he’d automatically be thrust into a title shot. Because, I mean, why would he make the leap otherwise? Why would he sacrifice a belt in hand for a hypothetical shot at a belt down the line? Why give away a fact for a theory?
That’s not the traditional work of a savvy businessman. Especially if sacrificing his title ends up meaning a date with Arman Tsarukyan as a barrier to entry. That could be a messy proposition for not one, but two worldly beasts caught in no man’s land. Tsarukyan had his chance for a title at UFC 311 in January but was forced to withdraw a day before the fight with a back injury, something the UFC brass didn’t appreciate. White said that Tsarukyan was going “back to the drawing board,” meaning he wouldn’t be granted an immediate title shot once healthy.
The question for Tsarukyan was (and is), if not a title shot against Makhachev, who was out there that made sense? Charles Oliveira, the man he beat at UFC 300 last year? That was a close fight, and a fun one, but do we need it again?
And who is out there for Topuria if not Makhachev and Tsarukyan? Oliveira? That, too, is a landmine for a reigning champion on his quest to win a title in a different weight class. Not that Topuria wouldn’t be able to handle it, but from the UFC’s perspective you are gambling away the prospect of a massive champ vs. champ setup to book anything other than Makhachev vs. Topuria, a fight that’s now tailor-made.
Of course, the “there’s a lot of s*** going on right now” part of White’s answer is a pregnant statement. This is where the good posturing gets done, and columns like these get written. The UFC is masterful at subtly negotiating through media. If there’s a demand that they don’t like coming from the Topuria camp to make the fight with Makhachev, it’s best to get out in front of it and say, “Hey, no guarantees — there are other possibilities,” to demonstrate the idea that, “We all good either way, bruh!”
There does seem to be a lot of [expletive] going on, which is always the case when high-profile fighters make high-profile moves. From a business standpoint, if you can leverage risk versus reward, that’s what you’ll do.
“One could argue that there is a potential conflict with Islam in this situation… or, let’s consider another perspective… Ah yes, perhaps Arman is in need of a challenge.” This could be a contributing factor.
However, the rationale for pursuing this fight is clear, as the opportunity for leverage exists through something as straightforward as public demand. While Makhachev is undoubtedly talented, having a formidable opponent on the A-side could elevate the stakes. Someone who could cast doubt on the outcome while also questioning his pound-for-pound status. Apart from a heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, there is no bigger fight to be made. Makhachev, on his own, may not be the most captivating draw, despite his dominance in the octagon.
Enter a rising star from an emerging market, also excelling in his craft, already a revered figure in Spain and gaining popularity across Europe, daring enough to challenge the UFC’s most dominant fighter? Whether Topuria’s decision stemmed from a desire to break away from routine or not, if the opportunity arises to make this fight happen, it must be seized.
Among all the potential matchups, this one stands out as the most promising.