LAS VEGAS – Ilia Topuria thinks Alexander Volkanovski wants to move back to lightweight after UFC 290 because he sees Islam Makhachev as a more winnable matchup. Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) punched his ticket to top featherweight contender status with a UFC on ABC 5 main event win over Josh Emmett this path month. He eagerly awaits the outcome of Saturday’s championship bout between Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and Yair Rodriguez (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), which takes place at T-Mobile Arena and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+. Whether Topuria will actually get the winner remains to be seen.