Ilia Topuria moves up to higher weigh that makes UFC’s view on “Dual Champions” changes

The UFC has seen some of the most dominant champions in combat sports history, with a select few managing to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously. However, recent developments suggest that the organization is moving away from encouraging dual champions. This shift became evident when Ilia Topuria, the reigning featherweight champion, decided to vacate his title and move up to lightweight.

The move raised questions about the UFC’s stance on fighters holding belts in multiple divisions, which was further clarified by Dana White at a recent UFC Fight Night 252 press conference. White explained that while the organization is open to fighters competing in multiple weight classes, they must maintain an active title defense schedule to prevent divisions from stagnating.

This article will explore UFC’s historical stance on dual champions, the reasoning behind this policy shift, and its potential implications for fighters and divisions moving forward.

Ilia Topuria’s Decision to Vacate the Featherweight Title

Ilia Topuria, one of the UFC’s most promising champions, recently announced his decision to vacate the featherweight title and move up to lightweight. His reasoning? The difficulty of maintaining his weight cut while striving for new challenges at 155 pounds.

By doing so, Topuria followed in the footsteps of several fighters who have sought greater opportunities by shifting weight classes. However, his decision had an immediate ripple effect: the UFC quickly booked a title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight championship at UFC 314.

Diego Lopes later revealed that the UFC was no longer interested in allowing fighters to hold two belts simultaneously, stating that the organization prefers champions to focus on defending their title rather than pursuing belts in multiple divisions.

The UFC’s Stance on Dual Champions

Dana White’s Explanation

Following the discussions surrounding Topuria’s move, Dana White addressed the issue at UFC Fight Night 252. He clarified that the UFC is not against fighters attempting to compete in different divisions but emphasized the importance of maintaining division activity.

“If you want to move up or down, that’s fine. But you have to be able to defend your belt. If you clean out your division and dominate, then we can talk. But holding up a weight class because you’re chasing another belt? That’s not happening anymore.”

White’s remarks reflect a change in philosophy. While the UFC once embraced the idea of dual champions as a way to elevate a fighter’s legacy, the reality is that it often led to logistical challenges, including title defenses being delayed, contenders being left in limbo, and entire divisions lacking clarity on their championship status.

Why Is the UFC Moving Away from Dual Champions?

There are several reasons why the UFC appears to be phasing out the era of dual champions:

1. Division Stagnation: When a fighter holds two titles, they typically have to split their focus between two divisions. This often results in delays for one or both weight classes, frustrating top contenders waiting for a shot at the belt.
2. Uncertainty in Rankings: If a champion is occupied with defending one belt, it creates uncertainty in the other division, leading to prolonged inactivity and interim title fights.
3. Short-Lived Dual Championships: Historically, fighters who won two belts rarely defended both for an extended period. Instead, they either vacated one or lost it in competition soon after.
4. Promotional and Scheduling Issues: With the UFC putting on multiple events every month, having champions tied up in cross-division aspirations makes scheduling high-profile fights more difficult.
5. Maintaining Fighter Health and Performance: Cutting weight repeatedly across multiple divisions can negatively impact a fighter’s long-term health and performance.

History of UFC’s Dual Champions

Despite the policy shift, only four fighters have successfully held titles in two weight classes simultaneously in the UFC’s history:

1. Conor McGregor (Featherweight & Lightweight)

McGregor became the first-ever UFC dual champion when he knocked out Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in 2016, adding the lightweight belt to his featherweight title. However, he never defended either title. The UFC stripped him of both within two years.

2. Daniel Cormier (Light Heavyweight & Heavyweight)

In 2018, Cormier defeated Stipe Miocic to claim the heavyweight title while still holding the light heavyweight belt. Unlike McGregor, Cormier successfully defended his heavyweight belt before vacating the light heavyweight title.

3. Amanda Nunes (Bantamweight & Featherweight)

Nunes knocked out Cris Cyborg at UFC 232 in 2018 to become the first female dual champion. She went on to defend both belts multiple times before retiring in 2023.

4. Henry Cejudo (Flyweight & Bantamweight)

Cejudo won the bantamweight title in 2019 while still holding the flyweight championship. Shortly after, he vacated the flyweight belt to focus on bantamweight.

Fighters Who Tried and Failed

Several elite fighters attempted to capture titles in two divisions but fell short:

• Israel Adesanya (Failed to win the light heavyweight title from Jan Błachowicz)
• Max Holloway (Lost a lightweight title bout to Dustin Poirier)
• T.J. Dillashaw (Knocked out by Cejudo in a flyweight title fight)
• Alexander Volkanovski (Came up short against Islam Makhachev at lightweight)

These attempts highlight the immense difficulty of becoming a dual champion in the UFC.

What This Means for the Future of the UFC

The UFC’s new stance on dual champions signals a return to single-division dominance rather than cross-division aspirations. Fighters will need to fully commit to defending their belts instead of immediately seeking a second title.

Who Will Be Most Affected?

1. Current Champions Looking to Move Up

Fighters like Islam Makhachev (lightweight) and Leon Edwards (welterweight), who have expressed interest in moving up in weight, may now have to choose between vacating their titles or abandoning their ambitions.

2. Rising Contenders in Each Division

This policy benefits top contenders who might otherwise be left waiting for their shot at gold while a champion pursues another belt. Fighters like Tom Aspinall (heavyweight) and Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight) will likely see clearer paths to title opportunities.

3. The Fans

From a fan perspective, this shift means more frequent title fights in each division rather than long stretches of inactivity while champions pursue other goals.

Final Thoughts

The UFC’s decision to move away from dual champions is a strategic one aimed at keeping divisions active, ensuring top contenders get their rightful opportunities, and maintaining a structured championship timeline. While it eliminates some of the dream matchups that fans crave, it ultimately benefits the sport by providing more clarity and consistency.

Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate his featherweight title marked the beginning of this transition, and as the UFC moves forward, fighters will need to adapt to the new reality—commit to their division or make a definitive move to another without holding up two weight classes.

While the era of “Champ-Champs” may not be completely over, the days of UFC promoting and encouraging it as a major selling point appear to be behind us. The new focus is on single-division dominance, and the future of the UFC will likely be shaped by champions who reign supreme in one weight class at a time.