UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has consistently talked about a potential lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev and the rivalry seems to be brewing.
Following his win over Max Holloway at UFC 308 this past October, Ilia Topuria catapulted himself into superstardom after he became the first fighter ever to knock out ‘Blessed’.
Although his next title defense is likely to come in a rematch against Alexander Volkanovski, ‘El Matador’ has consistently talked about a potential move up to lightweight in the future to take on Islam Makhachev.
Islam Makhachev comments on his brewing rivalry with Ilia Topuria
After defending his 155lb title earlier this year at UFC 302, Makhachev required surgery on his hand which has kept him out of action for the rest of the year.
Despite that, the Russian is rumored to be defending his title against Arman Tsarukyan at the beginning of next year, however, there still hasn’t been a date set by the promotion.
However, with the 27-year-old featherweight champion continuously talking about a potential fight against Makhachev, the Russian champion has commented on the brewing rivalry between the two.
The feud heated up recently when Makhachev stated that something may happen between the two on the ‘streets’. Topuria responded by claiming he would only fight him in the cage as he didn’t want to have to pay for his medical bill by fighting in the street.
“We’ll definitely have some kind of conversation with him. He talks about me all the time,” Makhachev recently told Match TV.
“He probably wants to get something across… Let’s go out and talk. We’ll fight if necessary. In terms of my fighting career, I’m not interested in fighting Topuria at all. He’s in a different weight class. I’ll beat him, and what will that do for me?
“I won’t win another belt. Everyone will once again say that I beat a featherweight. That’s it. But if people really want to see him lose, then we can do it,” Makhachev continued.
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Islam Makhachev still hopeful of becoming a double champion
Despite stating that he will fight Topuria if necessary, Makhachev has double-champ plans of his own and has done for some time now.
When Leon Edwards was reigning over the welterweight division, Makhachev was hopeful of fighting the Brit for the title, but ‘Rocky’ subsequently went on to lose the title against Belal Muhammad earlier this year at UFC 304.
This made things slightly more difficult for the Russian as he is a training partner of Muhammad and therefore, unlikely to fight him for the title.
“I have other goals. I want to win a second belt. If you want to remain in history then you have to do something memorable,” Makhachev stated.
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