Ilia Topuria’s vacant lightweight title win at UFC 317 prompted a unique response from Islam Makhachev.
UFC superstar Ilia Topuria‘s return to the lightweight division couldn’t have gone much better as he knocked Charles Oliveira out cold in their UFC 317 vacant title showdown.
Topuria became the UFC’s latest two-division world champion by winning Islam Makhachev‘s vacated belt in the UFC 317 main event on Saturday in Las Vegas. After a competitive first few minutes of the fight, Topuria landed a powerful right hand to Oliveira’s jaw that sent the former titleholder collapsing to the canvas.
Topuria capped off one of the most impressive three-fight runs in UFC history at UFC 317. Before making the full-time move to lightweight, Topuria earned back-to-back title fight knockouts over Alexander Volkanovski and BMF champion Max Holloway.
Islam Makhachev reacts to Ilia Topuria knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317
As Topuria kicks off a new era in the UFC’s lightweight division, Makhachev’s shadow continues to cast over the title picture. Makhachev decided to vacate the UFC lightweight championship to challenge UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later this year.
Before the UFC 317 main event came to fruition, it was thought that Makhachev would clash with Topuria for his next UFC lightweight title defense. But after Belal Muhammad lost the UFC welterweight championship at UFC 315, Makhachev opted to challenge for the 170lb title and bring his dominant lightweight title reign to a screeching halt.
Makhachev and Topuria have traded barbs for months online, with Makhachev dismissing Topuria’s accomplishments and imploring the former featherweight champion to prove himself as a top lightweight. Despite their bad blood, Makhachev shared a cordial reaction to Topuria’s knockout win, while nodding to the Georgian star’s culture.
In a recent Instagram story post, Makhachev appeared to react to Topuria’s win in a unique way.
“We celebrate,” Makhachev posted with an image of Khachapuri, a traditional Georgian dish.
As of this writing, Topuria hasn’t reacted to Makhachev’s post. His win at UFC 317 will move him a step closer to potentially surpassing Makhachev in the promotion’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Ahead of UFC 317, Makhachev threw shade at Topuria and Oliveira by downplaying the pomp and circumstance behind the International Fight Week headliner. But after Topuria’s performance, Makhachev’s pre-fight assessment appears off course.
Makhachev hasn’t fought since defending the UFC lightweight title against Renato Moicano at UFC 311 in January. He was supposed to face Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 311 main event before Tsarukyan withdrew on hours’ notice due to a back injury.
Islam Makhachev isn’t ruling out lightweight return after UFC 317 knockout result
Despite his welterweight ambitions, Makhachev could potentially return to the lightweight division at a later date. If Topuria challenges the accolades that Makhachev earned during his lightweight title reign, it could be enough to lure the former titleholder back to the 155lb division.
Makhachev has revealed a concerning obstacle he’s faced as he continues to prepare his body for the welterweight move. He’s struggled to bulk up in recent weeks, leading some to speculate if Makhachev will reverse course.
But for now, Makhachev seems intent on pursuing the UFC welterweight title and dethroning Maddalena later this year. A super fight with Topuria remains on the table for Makhachev as the UFC’s pound-for-pound king moves forward.