She broke the silence! Ilia Topuria reveals who she will face in her UFC return match.

Ilia Topuria is a former featherweight champion. Photo: Reproduction Instagram/UFC Europe

PUBLICITY:

Ilia Topuria , the undisputed UFC lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg) is returning and he wants to continue his reign. The Georgian-Spanish fighter, who announced a break from fighting until the end of the first quarter of 2026 to resolve issues in his personal life, announced this Friday (16) when and against whom “El Matador” will make his return to the octagon.

In response to a fan on X, formerly Twitter, Topuria revealed that his return is scheduled to take place between April and June of this year. Following this, another user asked if the fight would be against Arman Tsarukyan . In response to the question, "El Matador" revealed that his opponent will be determined by the fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett , the main event of UFC 324, which is for the interim lightweight title, on January 24th in Las Vegas (USA).

🚨 Ilia Topuria says he's going to fight in April-June against the winner of Paddy vs Gaethje 👀

(via @Topuriailia ) pic.twitter.com/a0Cmo9fuIK

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 16, 2026

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It's worth remembering that UFC 324 suffered a major setback; the bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg) title fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes was canceled due to an injury to the American . Check out the fight card for event number 324 below (subject to change).

UFC 324 fight schedule

MAIN CARD

Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett – Title fight

Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong

Heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg): Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis

Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva

PRELIMINARY CARD

Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Natalia Silva vs. Roje Namajunas

Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Ateba Gautier x Andrey Pulyaev

Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas

Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson

Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez

Heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg): Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman

Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg.): Ricky Turcios x Cameron Smotherman

Welterweight (up to 77 kg): Adam Fugitt vs. Ty Miller

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