Islam Makhachev has hit back at Ilia Topuria’s claims that he ran from a fight with him.
The UFC lightweight champion was expected to defend his belt against Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 on June 28, but everything changed when his teammate, Belal Muhammad, lost his welterweight title at UFC 315 on Saturday night.
UFC CEO Dana White announced Islam Makhachev would vacate his belt and move up to face the new 170lb champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
In his absence, Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira was booked for the vacant 155lb strap next month.
- READ MORE: UFC legend defends Islam Makhachev following claims that he wanted Belal Muhammad to lose at UFC 315
Islam Makhachev shuts down Ilia Topuria
On Thursday, Ilia Topuria branded Islam Makhachev a ‘hypocrite’ and a ‘liar’ during an angry rant about their failed fight.
As footage of the comments began circulating online, the 27–1 Russian fighter ruthlessly hit back.
“Difference between me and you, that I cleaned top list in my division, moved to next, but you ran away from two contenders who had consecutive 5-9 wins in FW division,” Makhachev tweeted on Thursday.
“You are nobody in LW division, just a big mouth from Spain with nice haircut.
“Go get one W, and we can talk boy.”
What did Ilia Topuria actually say?
Topuria took issue with Makhachev’s manager’s recent comments about their fight.
Ali Abdelaziz claimed that a deal had virtually been agreed upon before Muhammad lost at UFC 315.
“They lie, they’re liars, that’s a complete lie, that’s not the truth,” Topuria said in Spanish during a WOW 19 press conference in Alicante. “But at the same time, I understand it, because that’s their job. Their job is to clean up the mess their clients leave behind, right?
“[Makhachev] is the biggest hypocrite I’ve ever seen. He told me he didn’t want to give me the opportunity because I was the little guy and now he’s the little guy, he’s looking for the same opportunity I was looking for.
“So, how could you criticize a decision, an action of mine, when you’re doing the same thing right now?
“I’ve never seen more hypocrisy in my life.”