Ever since Ilia Topuria announced on social media that he is back in sparring, fans have been wondering who the Spaniard will face next. After suffering the first MMA loss of his career against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, Topuria has a tough road ahead.
However, “El Matador” has made it clear that he has no interest in taking a step back and wants an immediate rematch with Gaethje. He even accused the reigning 155lbs champion of tampering with his gloves on June 14 to add more fuel to the rivalry and strengthen his case for another fight.
While Gaethje has left the door open for a rematch, neither fighter is expected to compete again in 2026. With Gaethje now seemingly favoring Arman Tsarukyan as the more deserving contender, Topuria could be left without a clear opponent.
Paddy Pimblett has remained one of the strongest possibilities, but the last 24 hours brought plenty of buzz around Salahdine Parnasse potentially facing Topuria at UFC 336 in January. The rumor was particularly surprising considering the Frenchman only made his debut at UFC Paris last month, while Topuria is a former two-division champion. Now, however, multiple reports and even Parnasse’s own camp have put those rumors to bed.
Giorgi Kokiashvili and Stéphane ‘Atch’ Chaufourier Shut Down Salahdine Parnasse vs. Ilia Topuria Rumors
An account by the username @mma_bdm reported, “BREAKING NEWS: Per sources, Ilia Topuria will be fighting Salahdine Parnasse at #UFC336 in January of 2027. Co-Main Event. I have information about the main event, which is insane but not official. Paddy Pimblett is out with injury.”
The claim quickly gained traction before being shut down by Parnasse’s management team on their Instagram story. His coach, Stéphane ‘Atch’ Chaufourier, also reshared the post.
The story said, “What’s certain is that Atch and Parnasse wouldn’t refuse at all. If the UFC wants Topuria vs. Salah, it’s a big yes. But for now, there’s no contract signed and, above all, nothing official.”
The rumor was also dismissed by veteran reporters, including MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Georgian reporter Giorgi Kokiashvili. Heck wrote, “Just because I’ve seen it a lot this morning, I’m told there’s no truth to the Topuria vs. Parnasse rumors at this time.”
Meanwhile, Kokiashvili took an even stronger stance, writing, “Ilia is not a gatekeeper to welcome Salahdine Parnasse in his second appearance in the UFC, and I just hope mmadbm or his source knows about it. This is straight bullshit.”
Ilia is not a gatekeeper to welcome Salahdine Parnasse in his second appearance in the UFC and I just hope mmadbm or his source knows about it.
This is straight bullshit.
— Giorgi Kokiashvili 🇬🇪 (@iHeartGeorgius1) October 5, 2026
The skepticism is understandable. Parnasse is barely a month removed from his UFC debut, and throwing him straight into a matchup with a former two-division champion who has already beaten the likes of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira would be a massive leap.
Parnasse did congratulate Topuria after the Spaniard announced on social media that he was medically cleared to fight. He wrote, “Welcome back” alongside a sandglass emoji. And while Parnasse has already made it clear that he wants his dream fight with Max Holloway, there is currently no truth to the idea of him facing Topuria at UFC 336.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
