“The UFC promised me I’d fight for the belt. That’s why I vacated it. And they’ve always kept their promise,” Ilia Topuria confidently stated this to the reporters present at the WOW Madrid event. The Georgian Spaniard expressed his satisfaction with what he has achieved in the featherweight division, while admitting that weight-cut was one of the prominent reasons why he left the featherweight division. He left his hard-earned belt behind, just so he could target the biggest fish, in this case, Islam Makhachev. However, his legendary run is already hitting some roadblocks that are further delaying his chance at glory.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is an iconic figure in the Dagestani belt. His words carry value and weight. So, most of them seem to abide by his advice. ‘The Eagle’ from the start was never thrilled about this fight, and he definitely has a good reason for it. He believes Topuria doesn’t deserve an immediate shot, because currently, he’s nobody at 155lbs. Islam Makhachev stopped Alexander Volkanovski twice in a row; hence, giving another chance to an ex-featherweight will not take his protégé’s legacy to the ultimate heights.
The 29-0 legend told Adam Zubayraev, “I don’t know what kind of agreements Topuria and the UFC had, but from Islam’s side, he already gave two title shots to 145 champions. Both times Islam won. Now a third time — OK, 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, nobody at 155. Islam beat a guy who was a nobody at 155. Because of that, in terms of legacy for Islam, for his resume, I understand Islam’s risks, too. That’s why Islam says let him fight, let him become a real contender. ‘The Eagle’ definitely has a point here. You can’t just brush off Khabib’s concerns, especially when he’s speaking up for someone like Islam. But still, not everyone’s ready to shut the door on this one. Michael Bisping, for one, thinks there’s still a shot.
Bisping on his YouTube channel, said, “So, I would say, the way that this all plays out. Ilia is pushing for Islam. I think Islam will take it. Khabib Nurmagomedov is his coach, and he’s dead against it. Javier Mendes wants Paddy. The UFC would probably want it. Of course, Ilia says that the UFC kind of guaranteed him a title fight, that’s why he vacated the belt at featherweight at moved up. That doesn’t mean that’s gonna happen. The UFC might say that, and that’s just like anything in life. Yes, you say something, but s— happens, the world moves on!
January 18, 2025, Inglewood, California, USA: ISLAM MAKHACHEV 27-1-0 of Makhachkala, Russia defeats RENATO MOICANO 20-6-1 of Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil by submission DÃââ Arce choke at 4:05 of round 1 during UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California Inglewood USA – ZUMAo117 20250118_zsp_o117_031 Copyright: xMikaelxOnax
He added, “So, it’s not like it’s set in stone, it’s not like it’s contractually agreed, okay. So yeah, they might have said that, ‘Yeah well, we will give you a title fight, but given all the current situations, given that Paddy Pimblett has just shocked the world, and just wiped the floor with Michael Chandler. Does that put him in front of the line?’ I’m not sure. Let me know in the comments section.
Michael Bisping’s optimism about the superfight is definitely worth noting. You’ve got to respect that, even if it feels like a bit of a stretch right now. But here’s the thing: the UFC still hasn’t announced anything official that would really give us a clearer picture of a potential fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. And with a recent leak from Spanish media hinting at Topuria vs. Oliveira, things are starting to look even less likely. On top of that, Makhachev’s reign as the Dagestani juggernaut is as solid as ever. He’s already taken out most of the top contenders in the division, and his last fight against Renato Moicano at UFC 311 was, well, a walk in the park.
Ilia Topuria might’ve beaten Max Holloway pretty convincingly, which is no easy feat, especially considering Holloway has proven time and time again that he’s more than capable at lightweight. He’s also the guy who took out Alexander Volkanovski, who went toe-to-toe with Islam Makhachev in their first fight. So, on paper, Topuria’s got a pretty solid case. But, of course, the doubters aren’t going anywhere. And now, it seems one of Dustin Poirier’s teammates has joined the chorus of skepticism. Another voice is questioning whether Topuria is truly ready for the big stage.
Mateusz Gamrot believes Ilia Topuria has no chance in the lightweight division
Dustin Poirier might be on the verge of calling it quits, but his teammate Mateusz Gamrot’s not slowing down. In fact, he’s ready to pick a fight. He’s called out Ilia Topuria, saying the featherweight champ has zero advantages against the current lightweight king. According to Gamrot, the size difference is just too much. Islam Makhachev is a beast—too big, too strong, and just way too well-rounded for Topuria to handle.
During an interview with MMA Junkie, Mateusz Gamrot said, “He was champion in the featherweight division. Maybe this is fair, maybe no. This is politics in the UFC. Too many movement. For me, it’s interesting fight. But, Topuria is another small guy, Topuria is a samll guy and Islam is really big guy. I don’t think Topuria has chance against him you know. If you wanna fight Islam you have to be a big guy just like him. Beacuse he is good everywhere and if your body is smaller than him, then you don’t have chance.
It’s pretty clear that Ilia Topuria is definitely a bit smaller compared to Islam Makhachev—but will that really matter when they fight? Hard to say. And honestly, do you even think they’ll ever end up fighting? Please comment your thoughts below.
The post “Islam Will Take It” – UFC Legend Expects Islam Makhachev to Defy Team Khabib’s Decision for Ilia Topuria Fight appeared first on EssentiallySports.