UFC boss Dana White gave MMA fans a huge gift on Thursday with the announcement of an array of fights, including the full UFC 314 card.

The main talking point was the UFC Featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, vacating his title in order to move into the Lightweight division.

This means former champion Alexander Volkanovski and number three ranked Diego Lopes will face off for the vacant title in the UFC 314 main event.

MMA journalist Byron Ashworth thinks Topuria has big plans for the lightweight division:

“The fact of the matter is that Ilia Topuria wouldn’t have vacated the Featherweight title just based on not wanting to make 145 pounds anymore.

There has to be a second part, and that is a crack at the best fighter in the world today, Islam Makhachev, for the lightweight title on International Fight Week.”

Also on UFC 314, Paddy ‘the Baddy’ Pimblett is set to face veteran Michael Chandler in the co-main, and Yair Rodriguez will face UFC debutant Patricio Pitbull.

Moving on to UFC 315, Dana White announced that Belal Muhammad will defend his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena, with the co-main seeing Valentina Shevchenko defend her women’s flyweight title against Manon Fiorot of France.

Ashworth was excited about Maddalena’s chances:

“For me, he is one of the most exciting rising stars in the UFC, and that has shown in his performances against Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland.

He has the grappling capabilities to roll with Belal on the floor and has great boxing technique if the fight stays on the feet.”

“For me, we will see a new UFC welterweight champion crowned.”

However, Della Maddalena’s title shot means Leon Edwards will now face Sean Brady at UFC London on March 22.

Jack Latham