The ever-changing land of UFC’s lighter weight classes has taken another dramatic change. In a move that sent ridge through two divisions, Ilia Topuria, the undefeated Spanish-Georgian phenom, has officially vacated the UFC Featherweight title. Now focused on Lightweight gold, Topuria’s exit has left a power vacuum at 145 pounds and opened a fascinating window for Max Holloway to claim his place in the division he once ruled, even as he continues to cut his name into Lightweight lore.
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Topuria’s Exit: New Heights at Lightweight
Ilia Topuria didn’t lose the Featherweight belt, but he gave it up. After beating Alexander Volkanovski in a statement-making performance and defending the title once, Topuria set his seeing even greater heights. He recently got the vacant UFC Lightweight championship, adding another reason to his growing legend. With that win, he’s now officially the UFC’s number one fighter, a shocking rise for a man who was, just a year ago, only beginning to get mainstream attention.
His exit from Featherweight, while not unexpected, has divided. With the belt now empty again, the balance of power is changing fast.
Holloway’s Curious Ascendance
With Topuria gone, Max Holloway is officially the #1 ranked contender at Featherweight. But here’s where things get weird: Holloway is not currently campaigning at 145. Instead, he’s focused on Lightweight specifically, a July showdown with Dustin Poirier at UFC 318.
It’s an interesting position. Holloway recently knocked out Justin Gaethje to win the BMF title, doing so in hurtful, walk-off fashion. That win made him a threat at 155 and renewed interest in his long-term future in the weight class. But with Topuria out and Volkanovski once again holding the Featherweight title, Holloway suddenly finds himself a central figure in two weight classes, an odd but challenging scenario.
The Featherweight Vacuum
Topuria’s exit has left a noticeable place at 145. Volkanovski, the former long-reigning champion, is back in having of the title, not because he beat Topuria in a rematch, but because Topuria moved on. It’s a strange twist of fate: Volkanovski was knocked out by Topuria, lost the belt, but finds himself champion once more.
This leaves the division in a peculiar spot. Is Volk the man to beat again? And who lines up next?
The top contenders include Movsar Evloev and Diego Lopes, both promising odds with serious state. Evloev stays undefeated and has steadily climbed the ranks with his well-rounded, suffocating style. Lopes, on the other hand, has won fans with his wild fights and finishing talent. Either can be matched up for a title shot, possibly against Volkanovski or even Holloway if “Blessed” decides to drop back down.
Holloway’s Crossroads
So what happens if Max Holloway beats Dustin Poirier? That’s the million-dollar question.
A win over Poirier may launch Holloway into serious Lightweight title contention. The division is stacked, but with the BMF title already around his waist and a win over a former interim champ, he’d be impossible to ignore. Can we see Holloway challenging Topuria at 155 next, in a battle of former Featherweight kings?
Alternatively, if Holloway loses or simply decides that Featherweight still calls to him, the idea of a fourth fight with Volkanovski comes to light. It’s a storyline that’s both challenging and controversial. Volkanovski has beaten Holloway three times, though the second fight remains debatable. If Holloway is the #1 challenger again, and Volkanovski remains champ, the UFC may find it hard to avoid booking a fourth fight between the two legends.
A Tale of Two Divisions
What we’re witnessing is more than just title changes; it’s the remaking of two entire divisions. Topuria’s rise and move to Lightweight have changed the foundation of the Featherweight division, leaving uncertainty and chance in his wake. Meanwhile, Holloway’s position as both a top Featherweight and a surging Lightweight contender highlights the volatility of modern MMA careers.
Fighters are no longer boxed into one division. They’re chasing legacy, money fights, and championship belts across multiple classes. And Max Holloway, with his endless cardio, granite chin, and newly found knockout power, stands at the heart of it all.
One foot in the past, where his reign at 145 remains iconic. One foot in the future, where Lightweight glory might await.
For now, the Featherweight division will march on without Ilia Topuria, but it may not be without Max Holloway for long. Whether “Blessed” returns to reclaim his throne or aims to get new territory, the UFC finds itself in a golden era of divisional overlap.
And the fans? We’re just here, watching legends rewrite the rules of what’s possible.
Vijay Suyal