UFC Double Champion ships may be a thing of the past in the light of recent latest news.
UFC CEO Dana White revealed that champion of featherweight Ilia Topuria will leave his throne to chase opportunities in lightweight. Topuria is preferable to fight Islam Makhachev, but unlike Alexander Volkanovski, it is not for a double camp status.
In recent years it has been usual for newly beaten champions to indicate double fights. Sean O'Malley wanted Topuria, Topuria Wilde Makhachev and Makhachev hinted on movements to welterweight or middleweight.
In the middleweight, Dricus du Plessis entertains fights with Belal Muhammad and Alex Pereira. This was perhaps too many 'double champion' talk for the UFC buyer.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
UFC's Diego Lopes reveals promotion that champion has instructed to leave titles if they want to move division
UFC Vederweight Diego Lopes says that the UFC no longer tolerates that ruling champions hold their titles while challenging in other divisions.
“They were very clear with us,” said Lopes Papa Legaspi (translated by Bloody Elbow). “… they didn't say they don't give a chance to people who jump from division to division. No, if you want to get up a division, you must leave your title empty.
“That is what has been told to all the champions that are considering going on a division.”
This seems to be the case with Topuria. Other potential double camp matchups on the line in the future include:
- Zhang Weili (WSW) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (WFLW)
- Alexandre Pantoja (FLW) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (BW)
- Islam Makhachev (LW) vs. Belal Muhammad (WW)
- Belal Muhammad (WW) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (MW)
- Dricus du Plessis (mw) vs. Alex Pereira (LHW)
- Alex Pereira (LHW) vs. Tom Aspinall (HW)
Whether these champions should lose their titles depends on the marketability of their fights. In the case of Topuria it was a shame that Volkanovski had two double camping options against Makhachev. Otherwise he would probably have had the chance.
Dan Hooker from UFC thinks that Ilia Topuria vacancy Title is a Force of Force from UFC Brass
Multi-year UFC-Light Weight Competter than Hooker believes that Topuria is leaving his title not only a requirement of the UFC to chase the double camp status, but a show of the promotion to squash hunters who are getting too big for their boots.
“I think they just got it from him as a show of violence,” Hooker told Submission Radio. 'To be like:' Brother, you fight when we tell you to fight. “I think that's more what's going on. . . . It would not surprise me if he got the immediate title shot. It's just strange that they have taken the title.
“I don't think they want him to go up. I think it is a show of the UFC. '
There is also the factor that Topuria no longer wants to reduce the weight to reach the limit of featherweight. Perhaps the UFC took its title knowing that he would not be willing to return to featherweight after the move.
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