Dana White says Ilia Topuria back in early 2027 after calling him 'ready to fight' in September
White told Jim Rome the UFC is "working on" the former lightweight champion's return, and Topuria's trainer has named February as the month he will be ready.
Dana White says Ilia Topuria will come back in early 2027 and that the UFC is "working on" his return, having told the same show in September that the former lightweight champion was "ready to fight".
"In '27. So he'll come back in early '27 and we're working on that too," White told The Jim Rome Show, when asked if something was in the works for Topuria and when he could be expected back. He named no opponent and no date.
In September, White told Rome: "We don't have him on the schedule right now, but Topuria is ready to fight." Asked then about a Justin Gaethje rematch or a Paddy Pimblett fight, he said: "Obviously the rematch with Gaethje is incredible. A Paddy Pimblett fight is amazing."
Later that month, Topuria's physical trainer, Jesus Gallo, told Spanish reporter Alvaro Colmenero that Topuria was gradually returning to training in Miami and that "he'll be ready to fight starting from February" of 2027.
Gaethje beat Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June to win the undisputed lightweight title, the first loss of Topuria's career. Topuria suffered fractures to both orbital bones. He is 17-1 and ranked No 1 at lightweight.
White went on to talk up the division around him. "That entire lightweight division, you got Gaethje, Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, Oliveira, Paddy Pimblett, Holloway. I mean, the whole top 10 is straight killers," he said. "So it's the best and the most badass division we have right now."
Gaethje is recovering from injury and targeting a return in 2027, with no opponent set. Tsarukyan has said Gaethje is "trying to duck" him and that the UFC will give him an answer at the end of November. Pimblett has said he would take a Gaethje rematch before a Topuria fight.
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