Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria before fighting against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Ilia Topuria Puts His Foot Down, Sends Message To Islam Makhachev After He Moved To Welterweight

Ilia Topuria Makes It Clear There Will Be No Immediate Title Shot if Islam Makhachev Returns to Lightweight!

Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria before fighting against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

UFC featherweight and lightweight divisions have been buzzing with activity lately. Fighters moving up and down weight classes, champions making bold claims, and contenders jockeying for position. At the center of this storm stands Ilia Topuria, the undefeated phenom who captured the featherweight crown from Alexander Volkanovski in a stunning knockout earlier this year. Now, he has vacated his title to move up to lightweight.

Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev has been dominating the lightweight division as its reigning champion. But recently, Makhachev stirred the pot by announcing his to move up to welterweight for a new challenge, potentially becoming another two-division champion. This move didn’t sit well with Topuria. And now, ‘El Matador’ is making his feelings crystal clear.

Also Read: Former Middleweight Champion Backs Dricus Du Plessis To Win the Fight Against the Unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev

Ilia Topuria Reveals His Take On Fighting Islam Makhachev

The former UFC featherweight champion is clearly irritated by what he perceives as inconsistency from Islam Makhachev. First saying he would defend his lightweight belt, then suddenly pivoting toward welterweight has left Topuria feeling like he has being avoided.

“He said about a week ago that he won’t vacate the title. I said before that I didn’t come to lightweight to ask anyone for anything. I’m in charge. So, who turned out to be right? Who did what they said they would? Once I have the belt, he can get in line. It’s long, and many eyes are gleaming,” said Topuria via Alvaro Colmenero.

🚨Ilia Topuria reacts to Islam Makhachev saying before #UFC315 that he won't be vacating the lightweight title no matter what.

"He said about a week ago that he won't vacate the title. I said before that I didn't come to lightweight to ask anyone for anything. I'm in charge.… pic.twitter.com/38QGiSzIix
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) May 18, 2025

It’s a direct challenge to Makhachev’s reliability and perhaps even his courage. The barb implies that while Topuria keeps his word, Makhachev changes direction when faced with a legitimate threat. Topuria isn’t just talking about fighting for the lightweight belt, he is talking about winning it and making Makhachev wait his turn if he ever wants it back.

This isn’t just trash talk from Topuria. His confidence comes from results. Since entering the UFC, he has torn through competition with brutal efficiency. His perfect 16-0 record includes impressive wins over Josh Emmett, Max Holloway, and the legendary Volkanovski. Each victory has been more emphatic than the last, making his claim to lightweight contention more credible with every fight.

What makes this situation fascinating is the chess game happening between fighters, management teams, and the UFC brass. Makhachev’s move to welterweight isn’t happening in a vacuum. The current welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena, represents a different stylistic challenge than the smaller but technically brilliant Topuria.

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

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!