Ilia Topuria says he promised the UFC that he would not move up to welterweight immediately after becoming the lightweight champion.
Topuria stopped Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to claim the vacant lightweight title, making him a two-weight world champion following his belt at featherweight. Topuria had moved up to lightweight to pursue a fight with Islam Makhachev, only for the latter to vacate and move up to chase the welterweight title, currently held by Jack Della Maddalena. An Islam win over Maddalena makes a Topuria fight much more likely. However, Ilia admitted that he had promised the UFC he would stay at lightweight for the time being.
“I thought about [moving up]. But the last conversation I had with the UFC they personally asked me the favor like ‘don’t tell us after the fight that you want to move to the welterweight division. Make us a promise.’ I was like ‘promise.’ I was [crossing my fingers]. I promise,” Topuria said