Diego Lopes hoped to get his crack at Ilia Topuria sooner or later, however understands if the soon-to-be former featherweight champion needs a brand new problem.
With Dana White asserting that Topuria is vacating his 145-pound title for a transfer to light-weight, Lopes now faces Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant belt in the principle occasion of UFC 314 on April 12. Whereas reacting to Topuria giving again the championship in an interview with broadcast companion ESPN, Lopes says the roster has been instructed by UFC brass that if a titleholder needs to pursue a second title, they must lose their championship with a view to take the danger.
“They had been very clear to us that they mentioned that they’re now not giving [the] likelihood to leap from one weight class to a different,” Lopes mentioned. “If you wish to transfer up, it’s important to vacate your title. That’s what UFC has mentioned to all champions who’re planning to maneuver up a weight class. They’ll now not have the standing of double champion concurrently.
“If he’s going to be a double champion, [he] might be nothing greater than a champion of two classes.”
Topuria captured MMA Preventing’s 2024 Fighter of the Yr award with a pair of Knockout of the Yr contenders towards Volkanovski a yr in the past at UFC 298 to win the 145-pound belt, and Max Holloway eight months later at UFC 308 in his first title protection—changing into the primary fighter in historical past to ever cease Holloway with strikes. Topuria is hopeful he’ll get an instantaneous light-weight title combat towards Islam Makhachev, however the UFC hasn’t introduced an official matchup.
Lopes is driving a five-fight win streak into his first title combat as he battles the previous longtime champ in Volkanovski. In White’s announcement, the UFC CEO mentioned Topuria appears like he’s achieved every little thing he can within the division, and whereas Lopes isn’t knocking Topuria for taking a large danger, he believes that there have been nonetheless many challenges at 145 for “El Matador.”
“However I believe, ultimately, it’s as much as every particular person to determine,” Lopes mentioned. “If [Topuria] feels he has nothing else to do within the division, effectively he ought to transfer ahead along with his profession.
“I do know that within the division we’ve superb fighters that might give [Topuria tough fights]. We will even put him in deep trouble, and even defeat him, but when he feels that as a result of he defeated Max and Volk, who’re legends within the division, his work right here is already achieved, effectively, it’s tremendous. He has the proper to imagine so, and go forward.”
