Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

“I Don’t Think He’s Ducking Me” Ilia Topuria Had a Change of Heart on Islam Makhachev’s Move to Welterweight Division

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The saga between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev kicked off when Topuria, riding high on his recent success and notable move from featherweight to lightweight, boldly called out the reigning champion for a title shot. Determined to cement his status among the elite, Topuria’s challenged Makhachev for a title fight, but instead of taking the fight, the lightweight champ at the time, pivoted. Citing Topuria’s lack of experience at the 155 division, the toll of weight cuts, and Belal Muhammad’s title fight loss to Jack Della Maddalena, Makhachev vacated the lightweight belt and announced his move to welterweight, where he’s now ready to face Della Maddalena for the title.

The timing of Makhachev’s decision sparked a firestorm as Topuria accused him of ducking the fight, calling the move hypocritical given Islam’s earlier criticism of Topuria’s own weight-class jump. The fans were divided as some saw Makhachev’s move as a strategic play, whereas others as a missed opportunity to settle, arguably, a generational fight between the best-of-the-best.

With Topuria now preparing to face Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317, and Makhachev chasing his personal ambition at 170, the UFC may have let one of its most compelling matchups slip through its fingers. Unless both men come back to a common weight class, the Topuria- Makhachev showdown might remain one of MMA’s great “what if,” stories.

Islam Makhachev has VACATED his lightwelt belt to move up to the welterweight division and face Jack Della Maddalena, says Dana White 😮 pic.twitter.com/24QDp7mcwW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 13, 2025

Ilia Topuria Rethinks Stance on Islam Makhachev’s Welterweight Move, Leaving the Fans Surprised

Ilia Topuria recently spoke to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, and when the journalist asked Topuria about his thoughts on if Makhachev moved to the welterweight division to avoid a clash with him, Topuria replied, “I think he’s doing his things. I don’t think he’s ducking, to be honest. I would be lying to you, if I told you that he’s ducking me. I think he’s tired of the weight cut, he wants a new challenge, he moved to the welterweight division. He felt that he has a chance to become double champion and I think that is what he’s trying to do.”

When Helwani asked about why we never got the fight between Topuria and Makhachev, the former featherweight champion replied, “Because I think that not a lot of people understand how hard is the weight cut… There is no name in this world that motivates you to fight, there’s no (amount) of money in the world, you just wanna take care of your health. The reason why I switched the weight class. And I think he’s doing the same thing.”

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This stance is entirely different from what we heard from Topuria just a couple of weeks ago, where he repeatedly called Makhachev out for ducking a fight with him in the lightweight division. For now we’re probably seeing a temporarily calm and composed Topuria as he will take on “Do Bronx” at UFC 317 for the vacant lightweight title, which is less than a week away.

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

UFC

Eric Divakaran

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