A Topuria Volkanovski rematch is off the table: Ilia Topuria will not fight Alexander Volkanovski again. The former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion said so in an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC in Tbilisi, reported on November 6 and 7, 2026. Topuria said he has too much affection and respect for Volkanovski to hit him again, and he called the Australian the best featherweight who ever existed and the most dominant fighter the division has seen. The answer closes the door on that rematch. Topuria is now looking toward a comeback in the first half of 2027, with Paddy Pimblett viewed as the likely opponent. No date has been announced yet.
Quick Facts| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main news | Ilia Topuria rules out a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski |
| Reason given | Topuria says he likes Volkanovski too much and respects him too much to fight him again |
| Interview | Spanish newspaper ABC, in Tbilisi, reported November 6 and 7, 2026 |
| First fight | Topuria knocked Volkanovski out in round two at UFC 298 in February 2024 |
| Volkanovski now | Age 38, has won the featherweight belt back and stopped Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on October 24, 2026 |
| Topuria last fight | Lost to Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House event on June 14, 2026, his first career loss |
| Return plan | Full contact training around January 2027, return targeted for April, May or June 2027 |
| Likely opponent | Paddy Pimblett, though no opponent or date has been announced |
What Topuria Actually Said About Volkanovski
Topuria did not leave much room for doubt. In the ABC interview he said, in his own words, that he has so much affection and respect for Volkanovski that he could not hit him. He added that he likes him too much. It was a short answer, but it carried weight.
The respect in his words went further than that one line. Topuria called Volkanovski the best featherweight who ever existed and the most dominant fighter the division has ever had. That is strong praise from the man who took his title in February 2024. He still speaks about Volkanovski as the standard of the weight class.
The message matters because Volkanovski has been pushing in the other direction. After winning the belt back and stopping Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on October 24, 2026, Volkanovski called for a rematch at lightweight, at 155 pounds. A second fight with Topuria would be one of the biggest fights the UFC could make. Topuria has now answered that call, and the answer is no.
It is rare for a top fighter to turn down a fight of that size for a personal reason. Topuria talked about feeling, and he framed the decision as a matter of respect, not fear or business. For now the message is plain. The rematch is off the table, and Volkanovski will have to look elsewhere for his next big challenge.
The First Fight and What Has Changed Since
They first met at UFC 298 in February 2024. Topuria knocked Volkanovski out in round two and won the featherweight title. It changed Topuria’s career and the shape of the featherweight division. Before that night, Volkanovski had been the dominant champion. After it, Topuria was the new champion.
A lot has changed since that night. Volkanovski, now 38, did not fade away after the loss. He worked his way back, won the belt again, and then stopped Movsar Evloev in round two of the UFC 333 main event in Abu Dhabi on October 24, 2026. That win gave him a fresh claim to a big fight. A rematch with the man who took his title would have been a natural next step.
Topuria, meanwhile, moved on from featherweight and became a lightweight champion as well. That move changed the shape of any second fight. Volkanovski has called for the rematch at 155 pounds, where Topuria held the lightweight title. A fight there would have been a new test for both men, not a simple repeat of UFC 298. The rematch would have drawn a huge audience, yet Topuria still said no for a reason that had nothing to do with the size of the fight.
The Gaethje Loss and the Injury That Changed Everything
His last fight explains the long break. Topuria lost for the first time when Justin Gaethje stopped him at the UFC White House event, known as UFC Freedom 250, on June 14, 2026. It was a historic night, with a UFC event held at the White House, and it ended in a result few people had seen coming.
The way the fight ended matters as much as the result. His brother Aleksandre Topuria, his chief cornerman, stopped the fight in the fourth round. Topuria says that if his brother had not stopped it, he probably would not be able to fight again in his life. It shows how much trust Topuria places in the people in his corner.
The injuries from the fight were severe. Topuria suffered two broken orbital bones, a broken nose and a fractured foot. Those injuries explain why his time away from the sport has been so long. He needed no surgery, which was good news, and he was cleared by doctors in September. That clearance was an important step, but it did not mean he was ready to fight at once. A fighter cleared by doctors still needs time to rebuild fitness and to feel ready for a fight camp.
The Road Back: Training Timeline and Early 2027
Topuria’s return is now taking shape. UFC president Dana White told The Jim Rome Show on Thursday that the UFC is working on Topuria’s return and expects him back in early 2027. That is the clearest public sign yet that the plan is moving forward.
Topuria says he will resume full contact training around January 2027 and targets a return in April, May or June 2027. January is the point when full contact work starts again. The months after that are for a fight camp, sparring, fitness, and the slow build back to fight shape. A return in April, May or June would give him time to do that work properly.
The timeline also makes sense after the injuries he suffered. A fighter who broke two orbital bones, a nose and a foot needs more than a medical clearance to be ready. He needs time to trust his body again before a full camp and a full fight. A start in January and a fight in the spring or early summer gives him that time. White’s comments add weight to the plan. When the UFC president says the promotion is working on a return and expects it in early 2027, it means the talks are real, even if no date or opponent has been fixed.
Why Pimblett Is Next Instead of a Topuria Volkanovski Rematch
With the Volkanovski rematch ruled out, the focus turns to Paddy Pimblett. Pimblett is viewed as the likely opponent for Topuria’s return. Pimblett says he would love to coach against Topuria on The Ultimate Fighter, but he doubts Topuria would accept. Pimblett is clearly thinking about Topuria as a future opponent.
The Ultimate Fighter angle is interesting because it would give both men a long build-up before a fight. A season of the show would build tension toward a fight at the end. Pimblett has said he would love that chance. That doubt may be fair, since a fighter coming back from a long layoff may want a straight fight, not a long television season first.
Topuria has also said he would make Arman Tsarukyan panic, and he does not mind who he faces. It shows Topuria is not fixed on one name only. The UFC has options, and Topuria is open to them. Still, Pimblett is the name that keeps coming up, and a fight with Topuria would draw a lot of attention. For Pimblett, it would be the biggest test of his career.
The sport world has been busy in the same week. In tennis, Ben Shelton beat Tommy Paul to reach the Paris Masters semifinal on November 6. In basketball, the Thunder routed the Grizzlies 128-97 behind Ajay Mitchell on November 6, and the Timberwolves beat the Pelicans 115-109 on November 6. The Topuria story stands apart because it is about a return, a refusal, and a new direction all at once. None of this means the Pimblett fight is done. No opponent or date has been announced, so until a contract is signed and a date is set, it is still a plan, not a confirmed fight.
Will Ilia Topuria fight Alexander Volkanovski again?
No, not if Topuria has his way. He told ABC he has too much affection and respect for Volkanovski to hit him again. He also called Volkanovski the best featherweight who ever existed. Volkanovski has called for a rematch at lightweight, but Topuria has ruled it out.
When will Ilia Topuria return to the UFC?
Topuria says he will resume full contact training around January 2027 and targets a return in April, May or June 2027. Dana White has also said the UFC expects him back in early 2027. No opponent or date has been announced yet.
Who is the likely opponent for Topuria’s return?
Paddy Pimblett is viewed as the likely opponent. Pimblett says he would love to coach against Topuria on The Ultimate Fighter but doubts Topuria would accept. Topuria has also said he does not mind who he faces, so the UFC has more than one option.
What happened in Ilia Topuria’s last fight?
Justin Gaethje stopped Topuria at the UFC White House event on June 14, 2026, his first loss. His brother Aleksandre Topuria, his chief cornerman, stopped the fight in the fourth round. Topuria suffered two broken orbital bones, a broken nose and a fractured foot, needed no surgery, and was cleared by doctors in September. He says that if his brother had not stopped the fight, he probably would not be able to fight again in his life.
Sources
- Heavy: Ilia Topuria will not rematch Alexander Volkanovski
- BJ Penn: Ilia Topuria answers Alexander Volkanovski rematch callout
- Essentially Sports: Topuria recalls his brother’s crucial decision that saved his UFC career
- Combat Sports UK: Ilia Topuria rules out Alexander Volkanovski rematch
Final Thoughts
Ilia Topuria’s answer to the Volkanovski question was simple, personal, and final for now. He will not fight a man he respects too much to hit again, and he has said so in plain terms. That choice closes a big fight, but it also opens a new chapter. Topuria is coming back from the first loss of his career, from injuries that could have ended it, and from a break that has lasted months. His return in the first half of 2027, most likely against Paddy Pimblett, will be a test of how much he has left and how much he has learned from the Gaethje loss. If he comes back strong, the talk will soon move to titles again. For now, the plan is clear, the timeline is set, and the next step is a fresh opponent, not a rematch.
