Dana White targets early 2027 UFC return for Ilia Topuria after loss
The UFC is aiming to bring Ilia Topuria back early next year, according to Dana White. The fighter has been out since June, when Justin Gaethje handed him his first professional defeat, and no opponent is set yet.
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O UFC pretende trazer Ilia Topuria de volta no início de 2027, segundo o diretor-executivo Dana White.
Topuria está fora desde junho, quando Justin Gaethje lhe impôs a primeira derrota profissional no UFC Freedom 250. Gaethje levou o cinturão dos leves quando o córner de Topuria encerrou a luta antes do quinto round.
Em participação no “The Jim Rome Show”, White disse que o UFC trabalhava em um retorno. Questionado sobre a próxima aparição de Topuria, respondeu: “Ele volta no início [de 2027], e estamos trabalhando nisso também.”
White não quis nomear um possível adversário, mas elogiou a profundidade da divisão dos leves.
“Toda aquela divisão dos leves — você tem [Justin] Gaethje, Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, [Charles] Oliveira, Paddy Pimblett, [Max] Holloway, todo o top 10 é só assassino. É a melhor e mais feroz divisão que temos agora”, disse.
Topuria disse recentemente nas redes sociais que pretendia voltar, declarando “O Matador está voltando”. Nenhuma data ou adversário foi confirmado.
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