The war of words between UFC champions Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria continues – and now the Dagestani wrecking ball is getting personal with his attacks.
Whilst Islam Makhachev has teased a move to middleweight, many MMA fans are expecting the next champion vs champion matchup to be against a superstar from below, rather than above.
Undefeated UFC featherweight king Ilia ‘El Matador’ Topuria is keen to make his own mark at 155lbs, and it’s safe to say Makhachev’s latest attack won’t sit well with the Spanish-Georgian sensation.
Islam Makhachev accuses Ilia Topuria of being too fat for featherweight
UFC lightweight champion and pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, Islam Makhachev, recently sat down for an interview with Russian combat sports outlet ‘Match TV’.
At one point in the conversation, the interviewer asked Makhachev about Ilia Topuria claiming that he was the best fighter on the roster and that he could ‘do whatever he wants’ against him.
“He thinks this to himself, but no one else talks about it,” responded Makhachev, before revealing that he’s slowly warming up to the idea of that champion vs champion showdown.
“Maybe [I am warming up to this], but I heard that he has problems cutting weight, that he can no longer fit into the limit in his weight class… He’s probably already gained fat from the good life, and he already wants to leave that belt and move up.
“But I am not going to give him a chance right away because he hasn’t done all the work in his weight class. He has only one defense. He has other contenders he should have beaten but he doesn’t want to cut weight anymore.”
Makhachev’s offer was a simple one; either Topuria secures a few more title defenses at featherweight or move up to 155lbs and first take on one of the division’s top contenders.
“So let him move up, and when he earns his chances, we will definitely fight.”
Just as Makhachev was speaking to Match TV, Ilia Topuria was himself sitting down for a fascinating interview on the Full Send Podcast.
Ilia Topuria explains why he wants to fight UFC champion Islam Makhachev
On Full Send, Topuria teased that his next title fight has already been discussed behind the scenes and that he’s now just waiting on the UFC to make the announcement.
“I don’t want to say anything because [the UFC] asked me to not say anything. But hopefully, we’re gonna have some announcements really soon. Maybe the next week.”
‘El Matador’ would then explain why he wants to fight Makhachev in the first place – aside from securing a second UFC championship title and the payday that comes with it.
“I don’t like to be a bully and fight with people that I know 100% that I’m gonna whoop his a–. I like to fight with people that the fans think that it’s gonna be very competitive… With Islam, I’m gonna have that.”
Yet Makhachev isn’t the only lightweight in Topuria’s crosshairs, later teasing that he’d love to throwdown with several iconic former champions.
“Just imagine a fight between me and, I love that dog Dustin Poirier – he’s a f—– fighter, he goes in to fight until he dies… That’s a very exciting fight I think, for me and the fans.”
Poirier believes that Topuria could knock out ‘anybody from145lbs to 170lbs’, although ‘The Diamond’ also noted that his toughest test would be against Makhachev.
“Islam is a great fight, Charles [Oliveira] is a great fight, Justin Gaethje is a great fight,” continued Topuria: “I can mention so many great fights that could happen in the lightweight division.”