Ilia Topuria is now the UFC Lightweight Champion after defeating former champ Charles Oliveira in dominant fashion. The unbeaten Spanish-Georgian fighter has quickly become one of the biggest stars in MMA, and fans are already asking: who will Topuria fight next?

With Islam Makhachev moving up to face Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC Welterweight title, a champ-vs-champ showdown is off the table—at least for now. Dustin Poirier, a former top contender, has officially retired, which removes another big name from the title picture.

That leaves Arman Tsarukyan as the most likely and deserving next opponent. Tsarukyan has been on a strong run, including a razor-close win over Makhachev in their first meeting back in 2019 and a recent high-level victory that cemented his status as a top contender. A Topuria vs. Tsarukyan title fight would be a technical, high-paced battle between two elite young fighters.

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Another possible challenger is Mateusz Gamrot, who has quietly built a strong résumé in the division. However, he may still be one win away from securing a title shot. If the UFC decides to wait for Makhachev’s welterweight journey to play out, Gamrot could be matched against another contender like Benoît Saint-Denis or Jalin Turner in the meantime.

Topuria has expressed interest in defending his belt in Spain, and UFC President Dana White has shown support for the idea. If that happens, the UFC will likely pair him with a fighter who brings both skill and international appeal—Tsarukyan fits that bill perfectly.

At just 27 years old, Ilia Topuria’s reign as lightweight champion may be just beginning. But with hungry contenders lining up, his next challenge could be his toughest yet.

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