Topuria Rejected O’Malley Fight After UFC 306 Loss
Ilia Topuria ruled out a fight with Sean O’Malley after O’Malley lost at UFC 306. Topuria later won the vacant lightweight title and lost it at UFC Freedom 250.
Why Topuria moved on from the matchup
O’Malley entered UFC 306 as bantamweight champion but lost a unanimous decision to Merab Dvalishvili on September 14, 2024. The judges scored the five-round title fight 49–46, 48–47 and 48–47 for Dvalishvili, who took the championship. UFC’s official scorecards confirm the result and scores.
In an interview with Spanish outlet Marca, Topuria said, “Some other better fight will come along,” and argued that O’Malley’s loss changed the appeal of the proposed bout. The interview report also quoted Topuria saying he did not need to enter the Octagon for fans to know he believed he was the better fighter. His comments were his assessment of the matchup, not an official UFC decision about future opponents.
Topuria’s booked title defense
At the time, Topuria’s next assignment was already set: a featherweight title defense against former champion Max Holloway at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. The bout kept Topuria in his division and gave him a high-profile challenger with a long record at 145 pounds. It was not a fight against O’Malley, who competed one weight class below.
Topuria defeated Holloway by third-round knockout on October 26, 2024, retaining the featherweight championship in his first title defense. UFC’s event report records the finish and the result. The bout delivered the immediate test Topuria had been preparing for, while the proposed O’Malley matchup remained unrealized.
A matchup that never materialized
The original speculation centered on the contrast between two champions and the possibility of a move across divisions. O’Malley’s loss removed the title-versus-title premise, while Topuria’s scheduled defense against Holloway gave him a clear next fight. Topuria’s September remarks reflected his view at that moment; they did not establish that the two fighters could never meet. No Topuria–O’Malley bout followed the UFC 306 result.
Topuria’s move to lightweight
Topuria vacated the featherweight title to move up, then knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to win the vacant lightweight belt. At UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026, Justin Gaethje stopped Topuria in the fourth round and took the undisputed title. The UFC 317 report and UFC Freedom 250 report record both outcomes.
Topuria moved to lightweight after his featherweight run, while O’Malley remained at bantamweight. Their proposed champion-versus-champion fight never materialized, and the division changes make the matchup different from the one discussed in 2024.
, while O’Malley remained at bantamweight. Their proposed champion-versus-champion fight never materialized, and the division changes make the matchup different from the one discussed in 2024.
