• Alexander Volkanovski
• Diego Lopes
• Islam Makhachev

There is no rest for the champion of a stacked division. There are usually a number of quality competitors at 145, and Topuria already has two logical options.

Max Holloway actually shed some light on the status of the featherweight division ahead of the UFC 308 main event, telling reporters that Alexander Volkanovski is the next title contender while also making a case for Diego Lopes.

“It's just strange that they tell Alex that he has the next title shot and then have another guy as his replacement. But I think so. If you look at the heavyweight division, anything in the world can happen,” Holloway said. “Ultimately I think Diego Lopes is a promising rising star. He's not even on the rise anymore. He does what he does. It's cool. Congratulations on this moment.”

Lopes was the backup fighter on Saturday night, cutting the weight to 145 pounds in case one of the headliners was unable to walk.

The UFC has a proven track record with Volkanovski and it was a little surprising that he didn't get an immediate rematch considering how dominant he was as champion. At the same time, Lopes has made several appearances for the organization and has won three fights in 2024, building a five-fight winning streak.

The other possibility is that Topuria switches to lightweight. It still feels a little early for that, but he has already laid the groundwork for a rivalry with current champion Islam Makhachev, telling reporters that he will be the first to submit Makhachev if they fight.

Given the size difference, he might bite off more than he can handle, but these are all exciting options.