Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Did UFC Fumble Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev? Combat Sports Analysts Break It Down

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev showdown was arguably the most anticipated fight of 2025, outside of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, and there was a ton of hype in the first 4 months this year, however, the fans are now left with disappointment as both the fighters are headed in different directions.

Islam Makhachev, former lightweight title holder, has moved up to the welterweight division and will now face Jack Della Maddalena for the strap. Whereas, Ilia Topuria will now take on Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317, on June 28, 2025. While both the superstars are fighting formidable opponents, there is no question that Makhachev vs. Topuria was the fight that everyone wanted to see. So what changed?

Ilia Topuria has gone IN on Islam Makhachev for moving up to 170 lbs 😬👥

🎙️ via @KOlmeneroMMA pic.twitter.com/SVd5GQj106
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) May 15, 2025

Also Read: Sean Strickland Sounds Off On Khamzat Chimaev, Believes Dricus Du Plessis Has The Tools To Win

Why Didn’t the Fight Between Makhachev and Topuria Happen?

Islam Makhachev had little to no intentions of fighting another former featherweight fighter who had just moved up, and his ambitions were to become the double champ of both the welterweight and the lightweight divisions. In Makhachev’s opinion he felt like he had done enough in the lightweight division and had nothing else to prove at 155 pounds. Meanwhile, Topuria vacated the featherweight belt to challenge Makhachev for the lightweight belt, but surprisingly he never got to face the Russian inside the Octagon.

Now that both fighters are headed in their own directions, this begs the question, did the UFC fumble a blockbuster fight between two of the best superstars in the UFC? Here is what combat sport analysts had to say.

Ilia Topuria claps right back at Islam Makhachev pic.twitter.com/ctUG1xWvnl
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 15, 2025

Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell Believes That the UFC Missed the Boat on Ilia vs. Islam

Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell, combat sports analysts and writer, believe that the UFC “Missed the boat,” on a potential blockbuster fight between Topuria and Makhachev. “It is always going to be better, when the title is taken or defended. It’s going to be better for the fans. It’s probably going to be better for the fight itself. It is definitely going to be better for the sport and the division.” Thomas said on the Morning Kombat Podcast. “Conor (McGregor) had the title and had it stripped… Every one of the cases, it had to be handed to the next person… They didn’t win it off of the other fighter. The UFC had to administratively put it up for grabs again… I understand that we haven’t necessarily lost Islam vs. Ilia forever. There’s a good chance that we have.”

Brian Campbell further added to Thomas’ argument stating, “I don’t understand Islam not staying and taking care of this first. I think part of him wanted to go up, it’s not just that Islam’s 33 and he wants to carve out his own legacy as not just Khabib’s (Nurmagomedov) boy but a two division champion. Topuria having followed the Conor McGregor lead on basically all of his career decision making. What if he stops Charles Oliveira? Isn’t he just gonna call out Islam right after? And the idea of Islam wins the 170 title from JDM (Jack Della Maddalena) that we have a potential to get that fight next, or maybe even if Islam loses the title at welterweight and says ‘F- it, I’m going down to get belt back.’ It’s a big what if.”

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There is still a slight chance that the fight happens again, but it is by no means a sure thing for now. If you ask us, we believe that this was going to be the biggest fight since Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov, which happened in October of 2018, 7 years ago! For now we’ll still get to see Topuria take on Oliveira for the lightweight title, and Makhachev take on Maddalena for the welterweight title. Will that be enough to keep the fans entertained? Maybe. But there is no doubt that the Makhachev vs. Topuria fight was going to be a lot bigger than both of these fights combined, given what was at stake.

Also Read: Jon Jones Questions UFC’s Silence On Plans He Communicated Long Ago!

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

UFC

Eric Divakaran

nba

nfl

mma

I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.