Ilia Topuria reveals UFC return timeline and welcomes winner of Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje

Ilia Topuria is closing in on a return to the Octagon.

The Spaniard has been out of action since June, when he flattened Charles Oliveira to become UFC lightweight champion.

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Five months after his triumph, Topuria announced that he would be taking a sabbatical to address some personal issues.

He later revealed that he is dealing with “false allegations of domestic abuse” from his ex-wife.

The UFC has since created an interim 155lbs title fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje in Topuria’s absence.

Pimblett and Gaethje are set to headline UFC 324 next weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Whoever emerges victorious will be next in line to face ‘El Matador’, and Topuria has welcomed a fight with the winner with open arms.

Top Gun

Asked by a fan on X when he planned to return to the UFC, Topuria replied: “April-June”.

He then added that he favoured a fight with, ‘the winner between Paddy and Justin.’

Topuria’s timeline coincides with the UFC White House bill, which is set to take place on June 14.

He has previously expressed a desire to compete on the unprecedented card.

However, the fight Topuria initially floated around was one against welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.

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“Islam Makhachev,” Topuria said in October when asked who his perfect opponent would be for the White House event.

“I think it would be one of the biggest fights in UFC history.

“No one has ever fought for a third title, and Islam has dominantly finished everything he needed to do in his division and then changed weight classes.

“I think it’s a fight of a giant magnitude, which suits us all, as well as the UFC.”

UFC president Dana White recently revealed that he will begin matching for the White House card after UFC 324.

Conor McGregor and Alex Pereira are both in the running to headline, but Topuria would make a more than worthy addition.