The Topuria plan: When will the UFC champ return to the Octagon?

Ilia Topuria won’t be stepping back into the Octagon until 2026. UFC President Dana White confirmed the news this week while announcing the headliners for UFC 323, the promotion’s final pay-per-view of the year, set for December 6 in Las Vegas.

The main event will feature Merab Dvalishvili defending his bantamweight title against Petr Yan, marking his fourth title defense in a single calendar year - a potential UFC record. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will face rising contender Joshua Van. Notably absent from the card: Topuria, the Spanish-Georgian phenom, who will now look ahead to his next bout in 2026.

January return to UFC Octagon?

Recent speculation had Topuria returning in January 2026, and December was always unlikely given that his brother, Aleksandre Topuria, is scheduled to fight at UFC Qatar on November 22 - leaving little time for Ilia to complete a proper training camp. White hinted that Topuria could headline the first UFC event of the year, saying, “It’s a possibility.” He added that planning for the first card of 2026 had started “literally today”.

That card, UFC 324, will be historic. It marks the beginning of the UFC’s seven-year, €7.7 billion broadcast partnership with Paramount, which kicks off in January. The promotion is expected to go all-in for its debut on the new platform, and Topuria - undefeated and now a two-division champion - is the ideal face to launch this new era.

Who’s left in the UFC title picture?

With several top contenders already booked, the field is narrowing. Tom Aspinall will face Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title later this month, and Islam Makhachev is moving up to welterweight to challenge Jack Della Maddalena in November. Alex Pereira, another superstar, fought too recently to be considered. That leaves Khamzat Chimaev, the reigning middleweight champ, as a possible option - but Topuria’s most likely opponents are in his own division.

The UFC’s February event is slated for Australia, where local hero Alexander Volkanovski is expected to defend his reclaimed featherweight belt. That makes January, March, or April the most realistic windows for Topuria’s return. His opponent, however, remains a mystery.

Gaethje or Pimblett?

Arman Tsarukyan was ruled out after White announced he’ll headline UFC Qatar against Dan Hooker in what’s being viewed as a title eliminator. That leaves two names on the table: Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Topuria addressed the uncertainty in an interview with Radio Tavisupleba, saying: “We don’t have anything officially planned yet, but whoever it is, we’ll greet them warmly.”

Initially, Gaethje seemed to be the frontrunner. Journalist Álvaro Colmenero reported that he was the leading candidate, but a statement from Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, suggests he’s far from a shoo-in to be the choice.

“[Gaethje] will go down in history as one of the most entertaining fighters of all time,” Abdelaziz said on X this week, in what came across as kind of ultimatum to the UFC. “Wins or losses will never define him. He’s never ducked anyone, and at this point in his career, I believe he’s done enough to be fighting for the title next. We all know this is a business, but blood, sweat and hard work - this is who Justin is. He’s earned his shot, and his career speaks for itself.”

If Gaethje doesn’t get the nod, Pimblett becomes the likely alternative. The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett has been simmering for years, and it’s the fight fans most want to see. It’s the most marketable matchup, and both fighters know how to sell it.

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