Dana White Targets Early 2027 UFC Return for Ilia Topuria
UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the promotion is targeting an early 2027 Octagon return for former two-division champion Ilia Topuria following his June defeat.
· VILLAND PICK editorial
Former two-division champion Ilia Topuria is being targeted for an early 2027 return to the Octagon, according to UFC CEO Dana White. Topuria has been out of action since suffering his first professional defeat in June at UFC Freedom 250, where Justin Gaethje claimed the lightweight title after Topuria’s corner stopped the bout before the start of the fifth round.
Speaking on "The Jim Rome Show," White confirmed that the promotion is currently working on Topuria’s next appearance. "In ’27," White said regarding the timeline. "He’ll come back in early [2027], and we’re working on that, too."
White declined to name a potential opponent for the return fight, but he praised the competitive landscape of the 155-pound division. "That entire lightweight division — you’ve got [Justin] Gaethje, Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, [Charles] Oliveira, Paddy Pimblett, [Max] Holloway... It’s the best and most bad-ass division we have right now," White stated.
Topuria recently signaled his readiness to compete again, declaring on social media, "The Matador is coming back." However, neither an exact date nor an opponent has been officially finalized.
Sources
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