In a dramatic turn of events, Islam Makhachev's team has officially opened the door to a high-stakes clash with Ilia Topuria—just months after the Dagestani phenom vacated his UFC lightweight title. What was once brushed off as premature talk is now heating up as one of the most anticipated potential superfights in modern MMA.
From lightweight king to welterweight aspirant
Makhachev stunned fans and fighters alike when he voluntarily relinquished his UFC lightweight title, opting instead for a bold new chapter at welterweight. The timing of this move aligned curiously with teammate Belal Muhammad’s loss to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, fueling speculation that Makhachev’s decision was partially motivated by loyalty and a desire to reclaim Dagestani dominance in the division.
But with that choice came the shelving of a dream matchup—Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria—a fight that many believed could redefine pound-for-pound greatness. At the time, Makhachev’s camp dismissed the idea, with head coach Javier Mendez stating that Topuria still had "a lot to prove."
Ilia Topuria's meteoric rise changes the narrative
Since then, Ilia Topuria has done everything possible to make himself undeniable. His jaw-dropping knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 didn’t just cement his status as a legitimate force—it shook the MMA landscape and elevated him to the No. 1 spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Now, even Mendez can’t ignore the buzz.
“It’s the number one fight,” Mendez told MMA Junkie. “The other one was Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, but right now, if Islam wins, the fight to make is Topuria vs. Islam. I like what [Ilia] has been doing.”
Mendez praised Ilia Topuria’s ability to generate hype and fan interest, pointing out that he has "done a good job at getting people to want to watch the fight."
The perfect timing for a blockbuster clash
With Islam Makhachev preparing for a potential welterweight title bout against Jack Della Maddalena later this year, Mendez believes the timing is ripe for a cross-division showdown.
“Now if we win the welterweight title, we can go down or he [Topuria] can come up,” Mendez explained. “That’s what I say, but it’s not happening if the UFC doesn’t like it. But we need to win first.”
Whether Ilia Topuria is willing to move up or Islam Makhachev chooses to drop back down, the fight now holds more significance than ever—a battle between two elite, versatile champions at the peak of their powers.