When Ilia Topuria vacated the featherweight title and announced plans to make a permanent switch to lightweight, a matchup with Islam Makhachev appeared likely.
But although fans have been clamoring for the Georgian-Spaniard to face the 155-pound champion, Makhachev is also set for a weight switch.
The Dagestani will become a fixture at welterweight soon, as he gears up to challenge for Jack Della Maddalena’s newly won UFC gold.
Topuria has branded Makhachev a “coward” in response, accusing him of running away from their bout.
But one lightweight contender who saw his teammate Dustin Poirier submitted by the champ doesn’t think the Russian would have had any trouble dealing with ‘El Matador’.
Grant Dawson says Islam Makhachev would have ‘easy’ time beating Ilia Topuria
American Top Team-trained lightweight Grant Dawson is among those eagerly awaiting the arrival of Topuria at 155 pounds.
And the #14-ranked contender might have already made an enemy out of ‘El Matador’.
That’s after Dawson suggested in an interview with Inside Fighting that Makhachev would have handily gotten the better of Topuria had he chosen to stay at lightweight.
“Personally, I’m more interested in [Makhachev] moving up to 170 [than fighting Topuria],” Dawson said.
“I think that he’d beat Topuria decently easy. And I know I’m crazy for saying that because everyone loves Topuria right now.
“I just can’t imagine you add the size and technique and strength and cardio of Islam Makhachev and say that he’s not going to get it done,” Dawson concluded.
Michael Bisping says there’s still a path to Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria
With Makhachev’s decision to chase two-division glory up at 170 pounds, Topuria will fight Charles Oliveira for his opportunity to achieve that feat at UFC 317.
But while the Dagestani and the Georgian-Spaniard have their immediate sights set elsewhere, UFC legend Michael Bisping thinks Topuria’s three-weight ambitions could still pave the way for their matchup to reach the cage.
“If Islam [Makhachev] beats Jack Della Maddalena…Islam vs. Topuria. These two are destined to meet,” Bisping said.
“If Islam goes up to 170 and becomes the champ, Ilia Topuria is going to say, ‘I want to go up to 170.’ … Given the star power Ilia Topuria has, there’s a really good chance the UFC makes that matchup.”
Nine fighters to date have won UFC gold in two weight classes, but nobody has reached the top spot of three divisions.
After Henry Cejudo and Alex Pereira teased chasing the achievement in recent years, Topuria has become the latest to ponder chasing that huge chunk of history.