Reigning 155-lb king Ilia Topuria has a number of high-profile opponents for his first title protection later this 12 months.
Topuria Captured Light-weight Throne in Spectacular Style
Vacating his earlier throne at featherweight after a dominant knockout win over Max Holloway, Topuria opted to relinquish his championship in an effort to maneuver up a division to chase a second belt. This effort delivered him right into a predominant occasion conflict with promotional legend Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 because the closing act for Worldwide Combat Week. Demonstrating his absurd punching energy as soon as once more, the Spaniard flattened the completed Brazilian, stopping “Do Bronx” within the first spherical after touchdown a devastating left hook. The win not solely made Topuria the brand new light-weight gold normal, it additionally made him the primary fighter in UFC historical past to attain two championships in two totally different weight classes whereas being undefeated.
Extensively-recognized because the pound-for-pound greatest competitor on the planet, Topuria stands as arguably the best star within the UFC, having headlined three pay-per-view occasions in a row, selecting up knockout triumphs in all of them. Now again on high, “El Matador” finds himself with a brief record of fantastic contenders that he may face within the first protection of his belt. From one outspoken Englishman to a former interim champion, Topuria can have no scarcity of stalwart opposition to tangle with for his freshman outing because the 155-lb apex someday in late 2025.
These are the three fighters that Topuria may face for his first light-weight title protection:
High Light-weight Contenders: Paddy Pimblett
For a few years now, a budding rivalry between Topuria and English blended martial artist Paddy Pimblett has been brewing, which has seen the 2 get into all method of confrontations, akin to attacking one another at fighter resorts and buying and selling verbal barbs at press conferences. Additionally they have spoken about taking over each other within the Octagon for fairly a while, as confirmed evident by their notable back-and-forths on X. Following Topuria’s win at UFC 317, Pimblett was referred to as to enter the cage for a faceoff with the newly-crowned Topuria, ensuing within the German native to shove his fellow European in what is going to absolutely be used for an inevitable pay-per-view promo.
Unbeaten since 2018, Pimblett has loved a meteoric rise on the earth of fight sports activities off the again of a nine-fight profitable streak. Arriving within the UFC again in 2021, “The Baddy” has develop into a bona fide contender at 155-lb, as demonstrated by his current victories over Tony Ferguson, King Inexperienced and Michael Chandler.
Possessing one of many high undefeated durations within the division, Pimblett presents a singular problem for Topuria, because the Scouser has by no means been bested by strikes in his 26-bout skilled profession, which has been the champion’s predominant mode of victory in his previous three scraps.
High Light-weight Contenders: Justin Gaethje
In the case of naming the staple athletes of the higher echelon at light-weight, Justin Gaethje will all the time be one of many first fighters that involves thoughts. A fixture of the burden class since 2017, “The Spotlight” has garnered an electrifying repute with followers, having earned a bonus in almost each one in all his UFC appearances.
The Colorado native has additionally defeated among the best opponents within the group’s historical past like Tony Ferguson, Donald Cerrone, Edson Barboza and Dustin Poirier. He additionally as soon as held the interim 155-lb championship after stopping the aforementioned Ferguson within the fifth spherical at UFC 249.
Not too long ago, Gaethje has begun to stake his declare towards a shot on the throne after his win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. Including a large ultimatum for the UFC to grant his request, the 36-year previous adamantly acknowledged that if he doesn’t get his alternative to vie for the belt, then he would retire. Whereas promotional CEO Dana White was lower than amused with Gaethje’s phrases, the perennial high 10 contender boasts just a few distinctive challenges for Topuria, akin to his equally harmful energy and continuous ahead strain.
Ought to he get his want, will probably be Gaethje’s third undisputed title battle within the UFC after falling to each Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira beforehand.
High Light-weight Contenders: Arman Tsarukyan
Rising as a phenom within the light-weight class as of late, Arman Tsarukyan had already nailed down his probability to contend for the light-weight strap again in January at UFC 311. Victorious in his previous 4 bouts, the Armenian had crushed divisional standouts Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira to assert the mantle of being referred to as the primary contender within the weight class. Gearing up for a rematch with then champion Islam Makhachev, Tsarukyan was unexpectedly axed from the cardboard after growing a nagging again harm.
Though he has fallen to the quantity two spot within the 155-lb rankings, Tsarukyan should maintain the one real proper to problem Topuria for the belt, contemplating he was presupposed to battle Makhachev when he held the throne. Already “Akhalkalakets” has begun to name out the brand new light-weight king over social media, including somewhat little bit of gas to what may play out as a really explosive contest between two of the toughest hitting males within the division.
It was by no means presupposed to be Charles. I can end Ilia, easy as that. And he is aware of it too. That’s why he’s avoiding the actual #1 contender.
— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) June 29, 2025
Additionally they as soon as hailed from Georgia, that means their duel could be a matchup between former countrymen.
