UFC fans stunned as Dana White announces champion will vacate his belt

A UFC fighter will vacate his championship belt as he plans to move up in weight, Dana White has confirmed.

White, 55, made the announcement on Thursday morning via a live stream on his Instagram page.

The UFC president also confirmed the bouts for UFC 314 and 315.

At UFC 314, scheduled for April 12, Alexander Volkanovski is set to face Diego Lopes, and Michael Chandler will take on Paddy Pimblett in the pick of the fights.

At UFC 315, set for May 11, welterweight champion Belal Muhammad will face Jack Della Maddalena, and women’s flyweight title holder Valentina Shevchenko will be matched with Manon Fiorot.

White also explained how featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, who knocked out Max Holloway at UFC 308 back in October, will vacate his belt before moving up to the 155-pound lightweight limit.

“Topuria felt like he's done all that he can in that division, and he feels like he cemented his legacy, and his body cannot make the weight anymore,” said White.

“So Topuria will be moving up to 155lbs and will be vacating the featherweight title.

“So the way that this works is as soon as the first punch was thrown in this fight, the title will be vacant, and we'll announce what Topuria's next fight will be when it gets done.”

As a result, Volkanovski’s bout with Lopes will be for the now-vacant featherweight championship.

But what next for Topuria? Well, according to journalist Ariel Helwani he could be set for a mouthwatering contest against current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

"The plan is for Ilia Topuria to fight Islam Makhachev later this year, I'm told," Helwani wrote on X.

"Perhaps as soon as IFW."

IFW (International Fight Week) is set to begin on Wednesday 25 July in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fans also had their say on X.

One said: "Ilia vs Islam with Topuria not being champ seems like a massive missed opportunity for champ champ hype. Odd move by the UFC."

Another added: "If Topuria beats Islam… I’ll buy a shirt or something."

While a third commented: "Ilia vs Makhachev will be fight of the year."

UFC 314 fight card

Alex Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes - 145lb

Michael Chandler vs Paddy Pimblett - 155lb

Yair Rodriguez vs Patricio Pitbull - 145lb

Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates - 170lb

Nikita Krylov vs Dominick Reyes - 205lb

Dan Ige vs Sean Woodson - 145lb

Yan Xiaonan vs Virna Jandiroba - 115lb

Jim Miller vs Chase Hooper - 155lb

Darren Elkins vs Julian Erosa - 145lb

Sedriques Dumas vs Michał Oleksiejczuk - 185lb

Su Mudaerji vs Mitch Raposo - 125lb

Alberto Montes vs Roberto Romero - 145lb