Ilia Topuria Shares a Disappointing Update on His UFC Return

According to MMA Pros Pick on X, Topuria and the UFC have not had any discussions about his next fight. That silence quickly sparked speculation, especially among fans who believed Topuria would be the ideal name to kick off the Paramount deal. Instead, the report indicates there's been zero movement behind the scenes, pushing expectations further down the calendar.

Adding weight to the concern, journalist Alvaro Colmenero reacted to the post with a blunt assessment: 'That's how it is, if there still isn't a contract, this is a sign that in January, which is just around the corner, it won't be.' His comment spread quickly among fans, many of whom already suspected the timeline was slipping.

In a recent interview, Topuria discussed potential matchups and made his preferences clear. He expressed interest in facing Islam Makhachev, a matchup widely viewed as a super fight that fans have wanted to see for years. And if that fight doesn't materialize, he admitted he'd prefer a showdown with Paddy Pimblett. Both options are attention-grabbers — but without a contract in place, neither appears close to reality.

For now, Topuria's return remains one of the biggest unanswered questions heading into 2026, and the latest update suggests the wait could be longer than anyone expected.