Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev Fight May Be In Jeopardy As The Lightweight Kingpin Looks In A Different Direction!

Islam Makhachev may have other plans instead of fighting Ilia Topuria!

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Fighters rise, champions fall, and career paths change with a single decision in the UFC. Right now, two fighters find themselves at an interesting crossroads. Islam Makhachev, the dominant lightweight champion following in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s footsteps, has some big choices to make. Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria, the featherweight sensation, has been eyeing a move up to challenge for a second belt. But their collision course might be derailed before it even begins.

For months, fight fans have been buzzing about a potential showdown between these two technical masters. Topuria has been vocal about wanting to move up and challenge Makhachev, even claiming the Dagestani champion is afraid to face him. It wouldn’t be the first time a featherweight champion tried to conquer the lightweight division. Alexander Volkanovski made two valiant attempts against Makhachev. But now, fresh out of Ramadan, Islam seems to be looking in a completely different direction, leaving Topuria’s ambitious plans hanging in the balance.

Also Read: Kai Kara-France Hints At Possible Shot At The Title In Cryptic Social Media Post!

Welterweight Dreams: Islam Makhachev’s Two-Division Quest

Islam Makhachev appears to be seriously considering a move up to welterweight, something even his legendary mentor Khabib never attempted. According to reports, he is waiting to see the outcome of the UFC 315 main event between current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and challenger Jack Della Maddalena.

The decision is pretty straightforward. If Muhammad retains his title, Makhachev might stay at lightweight. But if Della Maddalena wins, the lightweight champion could make the jump to 170 pounds to chase that second belt.

🚨 Islam Makhachev plans on WAITING for the welterweight title fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena before deciding his next fight

If Jack Della Maddalena wins, Islam would consider moving up and fighting for the welterweight title

There will most likely be no… pic.twitter.com/uWksLliKfQ
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 4, 2025

This potential division hop makes perfect sense for Makhachev’s career. He has already beaten most top contenders at lightweight. He has broken the record for most title defenses at lightweight as well. A move to welterweight would cement his legacy and potentially put him in the greatest-of-all-time conversation. However, it would likely mean vacating his lightweight title, creating a huge shakeup in two different weight classes. The domino effect would be massive, affecting fighters like Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and of course, Ilia Topuria.

Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Dreams Face Reality Check

Ilia Topuria has been quite vocal about his intentions to move up and challenge Islam Makhachev directly. The Spanish-Georgian fighter has even taken shots at the champion, claiming Makhachev is scared to face him. But according to Islam (and Khabib), Topuria needs to prove himself against at least one other lightweight contender first before earning a title shot.

Ilia Topuria has his sights locked in on Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira for his next UFC fight 🔒👀 pic.twitter.com/AO72dDdCw6
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 27, 2025

If Makhachev does move up, Topuria’s path to lightweight gold might actually become clearer, just not in the way he imagined. Instead of facing Islam, he could potentially fight for a vacant title against someone like Charles Oliveira, whom he has already expressed confidence in beating. The irony here is that Topuria might get his lightweight title shot faster if Makhachev leaves than if he stays. But that is the nature of the sport! For now, everything hinges on what happens at UFC 315!

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

Belal Muhammad

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

UFC 315

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!