One of the UFC’s biggest stars is on hiatus – but that could change in a matter of months.
UFC lightweight Ilia Topuria revealed Friday on X that he plans to return sometime between April and June of this year, and added he’s gunning for the winner of the UFC 324 main event interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.
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Additionally, Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) pushed back against an anonymous user who suggested UFC welterweight champion Islam Makahchev would submit them should they ever fight, and also told a different commenter that he could knock out Arman Tsarukyan “easy.”
“Not even in his dreams,” Topuria wrote. “He’s bad even at dreaming.”
Topuria, 28, has taken a leave of absence from fighting (hence the Jan. 24 interim title fight) to deal with personal issues stemming from a divorce and accusations of domestic abuse.
A former UFC featherweight champion, Topuria vacated the title to then immediately pick up the lightweight one with a knockout of Charles Oliveira in June. Topuria’s ascent to the top and double champ status has made him a global star – and a superstar in his home country of Spain.
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ilia Topuria reveals UFC return timeline, ideal opponent
