UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev believes a fight with Ilia Topuria will happen sooner rather than later, but only on his terms.
Islam Makhachev is plotting his first welterweight title defense after winning the belt over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November. Makhachev fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a two-division world champion by delivering another dominant performance against Maddalena and knocking the titleholder off his throne.
After his win at UFC 322, Makhachev revisited the possibility of fighting UFC lightweight titleholder Ilia Topuria in a super fight, despite Topuria’s ongoing hiatus from competition. Topuria won the then-vacant lightweight title, vacated by Makhachev, knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 last June.
Just weeks ago, Makhachev said he plans to confront Topuria for past social media barbs before a potential fight comes to fruition. If a fight is on the table, it won’t happen in Makhachev’s old stomping grounds.
Islam Makhachev: Ilia Topuria fight will happen at welterweight, not lightweight
In a recent interview with , Makhachev revealed how the Topuria fight can finally happen following his welterweight title win.
“If Ilia wants to move up, then welcome. He can because he has nothing to lose by moving up,” Makhachev said of Topuria.
“If he loses, he goes back down to lightweight, and that’s it. He’ll defend his belt there. I’ve already been the lightweight champion, and I’m definitely not going back down to 155 pounds.”
Topuria has teased moving up to welterweight to fight Makhachev for the chance to become a three-division UFC champion, the first in the promotion’s history. The two sides have repeatedly traded barbs on social media, with Topuria promising to knock out Makhachev if they ever clashed in the Octagon.
Upon Topuria’s return to the cage, he’ll have to decide whether to either stay at lightweight and defend his lineal title or vacate to fight Makhachev at 170 pounds. In the meantime, the war of words continues between two of the UFC’s biggest stars.
