A big bantamweight matchup has been booked that may have a knock-on effect on the lightweight division.
The UFC lightweight champion’s manager recently hinted that Ilia Topuria could defend his title before 2025 comes to a close.
Unfortunately, any chance of ‘El Matador’ gearing up for the Octagon’s return to Madison Square Garden in November was quickly shut down.
Dana White announced the card for UFC 322, with no mention of the pound-for-pound king joining the stacked card, there’s only one PPV card left this year that he could fight on.
A recent report suggests that part of the reason that Topuria won’t be in action over the next few months is because he will be busy taking on the role of a coach.
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Aleksandre Topuria reportedly set to return at UFC Qatar on November 22
There were incredibly high expectations for the UFC debut of Aleksandre Topuria at UFC 312 in February.
The 29-year-old brother of Ilia Topuria secured a debut win via unanimous decision, and now supposedly has his second UFC fight on the horizon.
A recent report from Irati Prat on social media states that Topuria will be taking on Bekzat Almakhan in the bantamweight division on November 22 at UFC Qatar.
Almakhan has gone 1-1 inside the Octagon, bouncing back from a debut loss to Umar Nurmagomedov by beating Brad Katona earlier this year.
One of the main reasons the older sibling only has seven pro fights under his belt and hasn’t been very active in recent years is because he took a step back from competing to help prepare his brother.
The two men then switched roles so that Aleksandre could make his UFC debut earlier this year, with Ilia now seemingly going back into coach mode for the second time this year.
This goes hand-in-hand with the recent report from Spanish journalist Alvaro Colmenero, who stated that he believes Topuria is more likely to fight in January or February.
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Ilia Topuria insider suggests that he won’t be facing Justin Gaethje next
Georgian reporter Giorgi Kokiashvili recently added to the idea that Ilia Topuria won’t be back in action next year by ruling out the chances of the lightweight champion headlining UFC 323 in December.
Kokiashvili then went one step further than this, writing that the UFC has other plans for Topuria and Justin Gaethje rather than them being matched up in the near future.
Given that the UFC’s new deal broadcast deal with Paramount kicks in at the start of 2026, it would make a lot of sense for the promotion to hold one of their biggest stars back until then so that they can kick the year off with some huge fights.