Ilia Topuria next fight targeted for early 2027, says Dana White
The UFC CEO named no opponent for the former two-division champion, while new lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has repeatedly rejected calls for an immediate rematch.
The UFC is working on bringing Ilia Topuria back at the start of next year, chief executive Dana White told Jim Rome, although a date for the fight has yet to be set.
White avoided naming a possible opponent for Topuria, with that decision still under consideration. He did list Paddy Pimblett among the leading names in a lightweight division that also includes Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway.
White said: “That entire lightweight division — you’ve got [Justin] Gaethje, Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, [Charles] Oliveira, Paddy Pimblett, [Max] Holloway, the whole top 10 is straight killers.” He added: “It’s the best and most bad-ass division we have right now.” Topuria has not fought since June, when he suffered an upset defeat by Gaethje in the main event of the UFC White House card. He has since returned to training.
A rematch appears unlikely to be straightforward. Gaethje has repeatedly shut down calls for Topuria to get an immediate second fight, and has not said whether he expects to fight again or retire.
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