“Volkanovski is one of those fighters we’ll never turn down… I don’t think anyone in this room is saying, ‘Oh, this is crazy’ or ‘ridiculous.’ Who wouldn’t want to see it again?” UFC CEO Dana White remarked at the UFC 308 post-fight press conference last year. His words hinted that Alexander Volkanovski could be in line for a rematch with Ilia Topuria. After successfully defending his title against Max Holloway at UFC 308, ‘El Matador’ has become a hot topic, with fans eagerly anticipating his second title defense, possibly against ‘The Great.’

However, it wasn’t until yesterday that UFC middleweight contender Bo Nickal revealed that the Volkanovski vs. Topuria fight is reportedly scheduled for the upcoming UFC event in Miami, possibly UFC 314, in April. Nickal stated, “It’s official, I know for a fact… I know [Ilia vs Volk] is going to happen,” sparking anticipation among fans as they await official confirmation from the UFC. Today, however, Alexander Volkanovski’s coach, Joe Lopez, tempered the excitement.

In a recent interview with Submission Radio on YouTube, Lopez addressed the rumors when the host mentioned the possibility of Ilia Topuria “moving to lightweight” to face reigning champion Islam Makhachev instead of fighting Alexander Volkanovski. Coach Lopez cleared the air, stating, “Well, I don’t know if anything’s been locked in yet. We can’t say anything has been confirmed. Who knows? Maybe if Colby goes out there and destroys his brother, he might say, ‘Yeah, let’s go, let’s do it.’ But at this stage, they’ve told us to be ready for Miami, but they haven’t given us an opponent, so yeah, we’re just waiting.”

Following Coach Lopez’s comments, one thing is clear: Alexander Volkanovski is set to appear at UFC 314. However, the participation of Georgian-Spanish sensation Ilia Topuria remains uncertain. ‘El Matador’ has quickly risen to fame as one of the UFC’s biggest stars, drawing comparisons to the likes of Conor McGregor due to his growing popularity among fans. Much like McGregor, Topuria is eyeing a second title, targeting the lightweight division. Yet, Islam Makhachev appears reluctant to grant the “smaller” Georgian-Spanish a shot at lightweight. But why? Let’s delve into the reasons.

Why doesn’t Islam Makhachev want to give Ilia Topuria an immediate title shot?

“Islam has already given him a chance. People criticize, saying, ‘Oh, he fought Volkanovski twice,’ but it was the UFC that pushed for those fights. The first fight was competitive, but why should Islam grant a third opportunity to the 145-pound champion? It wouldn’t be fair to the lightweight division,” said MMA legend and Islam Makhachev’s coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, during his conversation with Henry Cejudo on the P4P Podcast.

Nurmagomedov dismissed the notion that Ilia Topuria deserves an immediate title shot at lightweight, drawing parallels to the Alexander Volkanovski vs. Islam Makhachev rivalry. ‘The Great’ moved up to 155 pounds twice to challenge Makhachev but fell short both times. Now, both Makhachev and Nurmagomedov are hesitant to grant ‘El Matador’ a direct title shot at lightweight. Instead, Khabib believes Topuria should first prove himself against a top contender, suggesting, “Somebody like Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira—if he beats one of them, then why not? Because right now, there’s nobody.”

What do you think about Joe Lopez’s statements? Should Dana White grant Ilia Topuria a move to lightweight despite him having just one featherweight title defense? Could allowing ‘El Matador’ to chase a second belt jeopardize the future of the featherweight division? Drop your thoughts below!