Dana White is no stranger to negotiating through the media, but if Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria can be made, you make it.

No, he did that,” White revealed about Topuria’s decision to relinquish his belt before changing weight classes. “He said, ‘I’ve done everything I can do here, I’m ready to move up’ and he vacated it.

Khabib Nurmagomedov suggests submission artist Charles Oliveira would be a fair fight for Ilia Topuria, favoring the featherweight champ in his lightweight debut. "If you move up and he beat somebody like Charles, of course [title shot]. I think Ilia can beat [Oliveira]," Nurmagomedov said.