Sep 7, 2019; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) against Davi Ramos (not pictured) during UFC 242 at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

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Islam Makhachev Open For Topuria Super Fight, Closes Door On “Conflict With Own People” In Another Champion!

Sep 7, 2019; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) against Davi Ramos (not pictured) during UFC 242 at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC’s championship landscape has never been more intriguing than it is right now. With Islam Makhachev preparing to move up to welterweight for a title shot against Jack Della Maddalena, the former lightweight king finds himself in a unique position. He’s eyeing potential super fights with not one, but two different champions from different weight classes. The Dagestani grappler has always been calculated in his career moves, much like his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov before him.

What makes this situation fascinating is how Makhachev approaches each potential matchup differently. While he’s openly excited about fighting Ilia Topuria, he’s much more cautious when discussing Khamzat Chimaev. The reason comes down to something deeper than just fighting. It’s about loyalty, relationships, and the tight-knit community that surrounds both fighters. Makhachev understands that some fights create excitement, while others might create unnecessary drama within his inner circle.

Islam Makhachev Excited For Ilia Topuria Super Fight

Ilia Topuria has quickly become one of the most exciting champions in the UFC. The Georgian-Spanish featherweight king moved up to lightweight in 2025 and immediately captured gold by defeating Charles Oliveira. His knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway at featherweight proved he hits like a truck.

Makhachev openly expressed his interest in this potential super fight during a recent interview with Ushtayka. If Makhachev successfully captures the welterweight title from Della Maddalena in November, he would become a two division champion facing another two division titleholder.

“There’s some intrigue with Topuria. Im also interested in that fight. Maybe we can make some kind of super fight.”

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The stylistic matchup between these two would be absolutely electric. Topuria brings devastating knockout power and crisp boxing technique. Meanwhile, Makhachev possesses the suffocating grappling game that made him nearly unbeatable at lightweight. His wrestling credentials and ground control could neutralize Topuria’s striking advantage, but the Georgian’s takedown defense has looked solid throughout his career.

A Makhachev vs Topuria super fight could easily headline a major pay-per-view event, and even be a nominee for the fight of the year!

Islam Makhachev Avoids Fighting Words For Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev presents a completely different challenge for Makhachev, both inside and outside the octagon. The newly crowned middleweight champion dominated Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in spectacular fashion. He controlled him for nearly 22 minutes while landing over 500 strikes. Chimaev’s performance broke multiple records.

Khamzat Chimaev is asked about a potential fight against Islam Makhachev at 170:

"We will see who's gonna be the champ [at welterweight]. I don't know. It's the fastest way, if the guy wins the fight, to get pound-for-pound #1." 👀 pic.twitter.com/7Mh8XtFlBk
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 7, 2025

Chimaev had said earlier that he wanted to become the number 1 pound for pound fighter. And according to him, beating Islam Makhachev would be the fastest way to do it. However, Makhachev’s response to fighting his countryman Chimaev was notably more reserved than his enthusiasm for Topuria.

“I’m answering this question here. I don’t want to open the door to any kind of conflict between our people…I have a tough fight ahead.”

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This careful approach makes perfect sense when fans understand the connections between both fighters. They share similar backgrounds, training partners, and supporters within the broader MMA community. Makhachev clearly values harmony within his community more than just another big payday. Moreover, Makhachev had said that he had trouble gaining for welterweight, and Khamzat has had issues with weight cutting for welterweight. This may look just 10 pounds on paper, but the difference is huge.

The UFC would love to book either super fight, but Makhachev first needs to handle business against Della Maddalena. The Australian welterweight champion brings his own set of challenges with an 18-fight win streak and the kind of striking that ended Belal Muhammad’s title reign. Only after securing that second belt can Makhachev truly consider which super fight makes the most sense for his legacy.

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

Khamzat Chimaev

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!