In a move that sparked fierce debate online, the UFC officially announced Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship via Instagram. Topuria, the undefeated rising star, and former champ Oliveira promise fireworks inside the Octagon.
But fans quickly shifted their attention elsewhere — to Islam Makhachev’s sudden title removal. According to the announcement, Makhachev vacated his lightweight crown to chase a welterweight title clash against Jack Della Maddalena.
The news hasn’t sat well with everyone. Many fans think the decision feels inconsistent and unfair, especially compared to how the UFC handled other champions moving between divisions.
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Announcement Details and UFC’s Logic Behind the Shake-Up
Though the UFC hasn’t nailed down a specific date or venue yet, their post gave fans plenty to chew on. Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira will headline a card that’s coming soon, with the winner crowned the new lightweight champ.
Reports say Islam Makhachev stepped aside from lightweight to chase a new challenge at welterweight. The controversy? UFC seems unwilling to let him hold two belts at once.
In the past, fighters like Conor McGregor and Amanda Nunes managed to keep dual titles—at least for a while—while chasing fights in other divisions.
Social Media Uproar: Fans Cry Foul Over UFC’s Double Standards
Fans flooded the UFC’s Instagram announcement with critical comments. The comment section reveal a wave of disappointment and disbelief.
One popular comment reads:
“Making Islam vacate, not Jones, is the most brain dead logic ever.”
Another adds:
“Bro, the disrespect. Islam should not have had to vacate. They let Volk do it.”
This only ramped up criticism of UFC’s choices. Instead of letting Makhachev defend or compete across two divisions, they booked Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira.
The Jon Jones and Alexander Volkanovski Comparison
The most prominent point raised by fans centers around Jon Jones. Even though he’s been inactive and sidelined with injury, Jones still holds the heavyweight title.
Many argue this inconsistency hurts UFC’s credibility. Comments like “Islam gets stripped but Jon Jones doesn’t?” and “Everyone gets stripped except Jon Jones 😂😂” have been upvoted thousands of times.
Fans also remember how Alexander Volkanovski tried to claim a second belt without giving up his featherweight championship, even after back-to-back fights with Makhachev. This makes the sudden creation of Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira all the more puzzling.
Why Did UFC Treat Makhachev Differently?
Historically, UFC’s approach to dual-division champions has been all over the place. Conor McGregor and Amanda Nunes got to split their time between divisions, but Dana White has tightened the reins since then.
One reason they might push Islam Makhachev to vacate could be to keep the lightweight division moving. With contenders like Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier all waiting, a long holdout would just clog things up.
Still, jumping straight to Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira without even hinting at a Makhachev defense has left a lot of fans scratching their heads.
What’s Next for the Lightweight and Welterweight Divisions?
With Ilia Topuria facing Charles Oliveira as the new centerpiece of the lightweight title scene, we might be on the brink of a fresh chapter—or maybe just more chaos. Topuria’s quick rise and Oliveira’s comeback story definitely add some flavor, but plenty are still wondering if either truly deserved the shot with Makhachev out.
At the same time, Makhachev chasing welterweight gold shakes things up in the 170-pound division. A fight with Maddalena could crown him a rare two-division champ—at least unofficially.
Final Thoughts
The UFC’s bold announcement of Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira has stirred up as much controversy as excitement. The fight itself deserves the spotlight, no doubt.
But stripping Islam Makhachev of his title — and doing so without clear precedent — has left many fans scratching their heads. The MMA community isn’t shy about voicing their frustration.
UFC’s title management policy is under intense scrutiny once again. Whether this backlash leads to a rethink or just sparks more debate, the future of both divisions looks uncertain—and honestly, pretty intriguing.
Vijay Suyal 
Reddaveni Saisneha