Jun 28, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ilia Topuria (red gloves) prior to the fight against Charles Oliveira (blue gloves) during UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Ilia Topuria Called Out By Islam Makhachev For Allegedly Ducking #1 Lightweight Contender

UFC fighters constantly call each other out, make bold claims, and throw accusations around. But when Islam Makhachev speaks, people tend to listen. The former lightweight champion recently dropped a bombshell accusation that has the MMA world buzzing. He claimed that current champion Ilia Topuria is deliberately avoiding a fight with top contender Arman Tsarukyan.

Makhachev knows a thing or two about championship pressure and title defenses. The Dagestani fighter held the lightweight belt and the pound for pound top spot for years before recently moving up to welterweight. His decision to leave the division opened the door for Topuria to claim the crown. Now, watching from the sidelines as he prepares for his own welterweight debut against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, Makhachev isn’t holding back his opinions about how the new champion should handle business.

Islam Makhachev Believes Ilia Topuria Is Actively Ducking Arman Tsarukyan

Makhachev didn’t mince words when discussing Topuria’s apparent reluctance to face Tsarukyan. The former champion stated that it was no secret that Topuria had been avoiding the Armenian fighter. He even claimed to have seen internet comments where Topuria supposedly said he’d rather retire than fight Tsarukyan. That’s a pretty damning accusation!

“It’s no secret that Ilia’s (Topuria) been ducking Arman (Tsarukyan).I’ve already seen some comments on the internet where he says, ‘I’d rather retire than fight Arman.” Makhachev told Tower_GSK.

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Makhachev believes Tsarukyan represents the toughest test available for any lightweight champion right now. Tsarukyan (22-3)has been on an impressive winning streak and sits at number two in the lightweight rankings (Makhachev is #1, and with his move to welterweight, it automatically moves Tsarukyan to #1). Most fans and analysts agree he deserves the next title shot. Yet Topuria has been linked to potential fights with other contenders like Justin Gaethje and even Paddy Pimblett. While those matchups might sell more pay-per-views, they don’t necessarily represent the most deserving challenger. Makhachev seems frustrated that merit isn’t driving matchmaking decisions in his former division.

Khabib Nurmagomedov had also stated that Ilia Topuria would stand much of a chance against Tsarukyan. Khabib gave Tsarukyan an 80-20 advantage in a hypothetical fight. The Dagestani legend praised Tsarukyan’s improved striking and distance management. He believes the Armenian has evolved into a complete fighter who can handle any style.

The fact that both Khabib and Makhachev share similar views about this matchup adds credibility to their claims. They have seen Tsarukyan’s growth up close and understand what makes him dangerous to a fighter like Topuria.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

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!