Unbeaten featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria insists he is still plotting a lightweight move next, and has a host of names he wants to face in his return to the division — including former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier — professing his “love” for the Lafayette striker.
Topuria, the current undisputed featherweight gold holder, has been sidelined since UFC 308, where he became the first fighter to stop common-foe, Max Holloway with strikes in combat sports — lodging a stunning third round knockout win in Abu Dhabi.
And at the beginning of last year, Georgian-Spaniard finisher, Topuria landed the undisputed featherweight crown with a stunning second round stoppage win over former pound-for-pound number one, Alexander Volkanovski.