SEATTLE – In the wake of Ilia Topuria’s UFC featherweight title vacation, promotion CEO Dana White explained the company’s stance on double champions Saturday following UFC Fight Night 252.
White said the promotion isn’t against fighters trying to vie for multiple championships, but indicated he expects an elevated level of activity from those who choose to attempt that feat.
“Unless you think you can defend your title,” White told reporters including MMA Junkie backstage at Climate Pledge Arena. “If there’s a guy who thinks he can do it and wants to defend both belts and has accomplished all these great things, I would have no problem with it. But you’re going to be busy.
“… Unless you’ve really wiped out a division, like Jon Jones, who was in light (heavy)weight forever and then moved up to heavyweight. Ilia, I get it. It makes sense. Like I said, who he’s beat and how he beat them, and now he’s tired of making weight and wants to move up to 155? Totally makes sense. But no, I’m definitely not (against it). Weili Zhang, they just asked me. She’s accomplished just about everything you can accomplish in her weight division and I don’t have a problem with it. The philosophy hasn’t changed, it’s just on a case-by-case basis.”
There have been four double champions in UFC history who have held two belts simultaneously: Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier, Conor McGregor and Amanda Nunes.
Topuria, 28, according to White, offered up his featherweight title as to not hold up the division. His exact next move in terms of matchmaking is not currently known.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
