Ilia Topuria isn’t buying the excuses coming from Khabib Nurmagomedov and Team Dagestan. After relinquishing his featherweight title and advancing to double champion status, the undefeated Spanish-Georgian fighter has had one aim in mind: Islam Makhachev. But as the lightweight champ continues to sidestep a showdown, ‘El Matador’ believes the truth is far simpler than the justifications Nurmagomedov recently gave, and he did not shy away from making serious allegations ahead of his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
“Khabib knows I’m the one to take the belt from Islam. The only reason he doesn’t want Islam to fight me,” Topuria wrote on X. It is worth noting that the Spanish-Georgian’s scathing tweet came soon after Khabib Nurmagomedov’s interview with Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev. In the interview, the MMA legend downplayed the possibility of Topuria jumping the line, claiming that Makhachev already has wins over featherweights and that he defeated Alexander Volkanovski twice. As a result, ‘The Eagle’ claimed Ilia Topuria needed to prove himself at lightweight before getting a title fight, adding that beating someone untested at 155 would do nothing for Islam Makhachev’s legacy.
“Okay, let’s imagine Topuria moves up and gets a title shot right away. Islam beats him. Then Topuria fights again. He loses again. So basically he was a nobody at 155. Islam beat a nobody at 155. Because of that, in terms of legacy, for Islam, for his resume, I understand Islam’s risks,” Nurmagomedov said. For him, Arman Tsarukyan made more sense. But Topuria did not hesitate to question the logic—especially when his resume includes defeating both Volkanovski and Max Holloway, two of the best to ever do it. The timing is what truly fuels the fire.
‘El Matador’ is on a hot streak after smashing the top featherweights, and fans are eager to see if his power and precision can carry over to the next division. Makhachev, meanwhile, leads the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings with little competition in sight. It’s the ideal scenario for a blockbuster fight. However, instead of progressing, Topuria believes Team Dagestan is backpedaling. For him Nurmagomedov’s premeditated dismissal smacks of fear disguised as strategy. He’s telling it like it is: Makhachev has everything to lose, and Topuria is the man who could take it all. After seeing how he responded to ‘The Eagle’ on X after the Russian’s interview, fans would surely be waiting with bated breath to find out what he had to say when he sat down with Joe Rogan on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast. If there’s one thing that is guaranteed in the episode, it would be some major verbal fireworks aimed at Camp Dagestan.
Whether or not Khabib Nurmagomedov’s stance holds any merit, one thing is certain: Ilia Topuria is not going away. In fact, he has just one demand: He is willing to wait until the fall to fight for the lightweight title and isn’t considering other options. ‘El Matador’ said, “I want to have a fight in the summer. But if that doesn’t work out, I’m ready for a title fight in the fall. We’re not considering other options,” he told TASS. Topuria’s undefeated record, high-profile knockouts, and willingness to take risks have already earned him a fan following. He is after greatness, not simply a paycheck. For the UFC, a fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria would be explosive—a true confrontation of styles, cultures, and legacies. The more it’s postponed, the more the conversation shifts. So, they truly see the massive potential the fight has. And to make things more interesting, Colby Covington just revealed that the UFC might’ve already booked the fight as well.
Colby Covington spills the beans on the Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev fight
As suspicions about Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev reached a fever pitch, Colby Covington may have just sparked more hope in the hearts of MMA fans. Following the Spanish-Georgian’s claim that Khabib Nurmagomedov is purposefully safeguarding Islam Makhachev, the narrative suddenly took a turn. During a live stream with renowned streamer N3on, ‘Chaos’ casually mentioned that the fight fans have been begging for could already be a done deal. No official posters or Dana White announcements—only Covington doing what he does best: making noise. But this time, it might be true.
According to Covington, the UFC plans to hold this seismic battle during International Fight Week in Las Vegas in late June. That is consistent with the promotion’s typical schedule, but his follow-up surprised fans: “They haven’t announced it, but I think it’s going to be Makhachev and Topuria.” Simple. Direct, explosive. At that moment, what had begun as a fantasy matchup felt more realistic. Even N3on couldn’t disguise his surprise, describing it as “crazy” and “f—— insane,” reflecting what other fans thought. After all of the ducking, skepticism, and dismissals, there’s a glimmer of hope that the UFC may eventually pull the trigger.
But Covington wasn’t done yet. He went on to tease a co-main event that may potentially break the internet: Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight title. If this is true, it would imply that two unbeaten killers, Ilia Topuria and Chimaev, would compete on the same card, each hoping to etch their names further into the sport’s history. It’s unclear whether Covington is leaking legit intel or just stirring up the pot a bit. But one thing is certain: if this card is as real as he claimed, the UFC isn’t simply putting on a show. They are setting the stage for war. What do you think? Is there any truth to Colby Covington’s claims? Let us know in the comments.
The post All Eyes on Joe Rogan Experience as Khabib Nurmagomedov & Islam Makhachev Get Exposed by Ilia Topuria as Ex-Champ Makes 1 Demand appeared first on EssentiallySports.