Topuria’s wins over Volkanovski and Holloway kept him unbeaten, and he is already eyeing a shot at lightweight champion Makhachev – who twice retained the 155lb belt against Volkanovski in 2023, winning on points then scoring a KO in their rematch.
Rising middleweight star Bo Nickal has claimed a rematch between Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski is “official” for UFC 314 in April.
The expectation has long been that Volkanovski, 36, would make his return in a rematch with Topuria, 28, and Nickal suggested that fight will soon take place.
Volkanovski recorded five successful title defences before dropping the 145lb gold to Topuria, the first-ever UFC champion of Georgian or Spanish heritage.
The second-round stoppage, which came four months after Volkanovski suffered a KO by lightweight king Islam Makhachev, forced “Alexander The Great” to take time away from the cage.
