Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Daniel Cormier before the fight between Johnny Munoz and Jamey Simmonsduring UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

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Daniel Cormier Gets Real About Ilia Topuria’s Accusations Towards The Lightweight Elite

Daniel Cormier gives reality check to Ilia Topuria after his comments about the lightweight division's elite!

Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Daniel Cormier before the fight between Johnny Munoz and Jamey Simmonsduring UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

UFC fighters are always talking big and making bold claims. This back-and-forth between champions and challengers keeps fans excited and builds anticipation for future matchups. Recently, Ilia Topuria stirred the pot with some strong words about the lightweight division’s top fighters.

The undefeated featherweight champion decided to move up in weight class, and he didn’t do it quietly. Topuria claimed that current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and former champion Charles Oliveira were afraid to face him, setting the MMA world buzzing with these accusations. Now, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier is giving his thoughts on this take by Topuria.

Also Read: Alexander Volkanovski Feels One Fighter Has The Edge In The Potential Topuria vs. Makhachev Title Clash!

Daniel Cormier Gives Honest Opinion On Ilia Topuria’s Claim

‘DC’ isn’t buying what Topuria is selling. As a close friend and longtime teammate of Makhachev, Cormier felt compelled to address these claims head-on. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Cormier acknowledged Topuria’s skills but firmly rejected the idea that fear plays any part in the equation.

“I’ll tell you this as a person that’s a friend of Islam, a person that’s known Islam for years and years. He’s not afraid of him…And I’ll be honest with you: Neither is Justin Gaethje. Neither is Charles Oliveira. Neither is Dustin Poirier, or Michael Chandler. Those guys aren’t afraid of each other. They are fighters.”

🗣Daniel Cormier on Ilia Topuria saying LW's are scared of him

"Islam is not afraid of him. And I'll be honest with you, Neither is Justin Gaethje. Neither is Charles Oliveira. Neither is Dustin Poirier or Michael Chandler. Those guys aren't afraid of each other."

(via Daniel… pic.twitter.com/0Bs4zKUKbk
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) March 28, 2025

Cormier made the compelling argument that at the elite level of fighting, fear isn’t what drives decisions about opponents. These men have faced the best of the best throughout their careers and have proven themselves time and again in the octagon.

Daniel Cormier Suggest Alternate Reasons Why Fighters Don’t Want To Fight Topuria

Instead of fear, Cormier suggested more practical reasons why fighters might hesitate to take on Topuria. For Makhachev specifically, there is concern about perception. The lightweight champion has faced criticism that his title reign has featured opponents who were either undersized or underprepared. Taking on Topuria, who is moving up from featherweight, might only reinforce that narrative. It’s about strategy and legacy rather than fear. For Charles Oliveira, he wants a title fight instead of fighting for the #1 spot again.

Despite these reservations, Cormier acknowledged the business reality of the UFC. Topuria has quickly become one of the most exciting and marketable fighters on the roster. His undefeated record (16-0) and confident personality make him a draw for fans.

This situation with Topuria mirrors past instances where champions have moved up in weight looking for super fights. Fans saw it with Conor McGregor when he moved up to lightweight while holding the featherweight belt, and with Henry Cejudo when he captured both flyweight and bantamweight titles. These weight class jumps create excitement but also disrupt the natural order of contenders waiting their turn.

For fans, this back-and-forth creates anticipation for potential matchups. Whether Topuria gets his desired title shot against Islam Makhachev or ends up facing Oliveira in a number one contender bout, the buildup and storyline are already developing. And in the fight game, sometimes the verbal sparring before the actual fight is half the entertainment!

(Image Credit: Troy Taormina – Imagn Images)

Daniel Cormier

Ilia Topuria

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!