Ilia Topuria issues message to featherweight division: ‘I will not leave the title vacant’

Ilia Topuria | Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Ilia Topuria has a message for all his fellow featherweights.

Earlier this week, the UFC featherweight champion suggested that his time at 145 pounds may be at an end, saying he is considering vacating the title to move up to the lightweight division. In response, Diego Lopes — who is among the top contenders at featherweight — quickly suggested he and former champion Alexander Volkanovski fight for the vacant title. And apparently that doesn’t sit right with Topuria.