Ilia
Topuria is being targeted for an early 2027 return to the
Octagon, according to
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.

The former two-division champion has not competed since suffering
his first professional defeat against Justin
Gaethje at
UFC Freedom 250 in June. Gaethje won the lightweight title
after Topuria’s corner stopped the fight before the fifth
round.

Advertisement

Dana White says the UFC is working on Ilia Topuria’s comeback
after his first defeat to Justin Gaethje

Speaking on “The Jim Rome Show,” White said the promotion was
working on Topuria’s comeback.

“In ’27,” White said when asked about Topuria’s next appearance.
“He’ll come back in early [2027], and we’re working on that,
too.”

White declined to name a potential opponent but praised the depth
of the lightweight division.

“That entire lightweight division — you’ve got [Justin] Gaethje,
Topuria, Arman
Tsarukyan, [Charles] Oliveira, Paddy
Pimblett, [Max] Holloway, the whole top 10 is straight killers.
It’s the best and most bad-ass division we have right now,” he
said.

Topuria recently signaled his intention to return in a social media
post, declaring, “The Matador is coming back.” Neither a date nor
an opponent has been announced.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

Internationaler Kampfkunst und Kampfsport Kleinanzeiger