UFC CEO Dana White dropped a slew of bombshells on Wednesday, but the biggest is that Ilia Topuria, the No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, vacated the featherweight title. Topuria felt he couldn't make the weight and opted to move to lightweight.
White, who broke that and much other news during a livestream on Instagram, said he'd announce Topuria's next fight soon. Presumably, it will be be against lightweight champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound Islam Makhachev.
White also announced that Alexander Volkanovski would fight Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami for the title Topuria vacated. White said the UFC had signed former Bellator champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire, and he'll make his debut against Yair Rodriguez in Miami.
The co-main event of UFC 314 is expected to see flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defending against Kai Kara-France. Lightweights Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett will square off on the main card.
White said No. 1 welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov is injured, so champion Belal Muhammad will face Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 315 in Montreal on May 10. The co-main of that show will be champion Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot for the flyweight title.
Because Della Maddalena was scheduled to fight Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC London on March 22, White said Sean Brady would take that spot opposite Edwards.