Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

‘Unfortunate that Makhachev ran away’ – Ilia Topuria opens up on Islam Makhachev’s Welterweight Escape

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, has not vacated his division and the belt to move up to the welterweight division. The reason why is because Islam wanted to become a double champion in the UFC, but since he was asked to vacate the lightweight belt, things didn’t exactly go according to the champ’s plan. Makhachev has expressed his desire to move up to the welterweight division for quite some time, but that has halted previously due to his friend/brother Belal Muhammad being the champion. However, after Muhammad lost against Maddalena at UFC 315, all the fans around the world knew that the Russian was going to move up.

Now, Makhachev will face Maddalena for the welterweight title in the near future, and while many are already calling Makhachev the favorite to win the fight, it is not that simple. Welterweight category has some hard hitters, and the best, arguably, in the division is Maddalena. The Aussie removed all doubts from most hater’s minds and he proved that he can win at the highest levels. Maddalena deeply injured Muhammad’s face, and even though the former champ wasn’t knocked out, that doesn’t mean Makhachev won’t be.

🚨 Dana White just announced Islam Makhachev has vacated the lightweight belt

Ilia Topuria will fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant title at UFC 317 on June 28th 🤯 pic.twitter.com/v38KnHB3gy
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) May 13, 2025

Also Read: UFC Owners Tease Big Moves Ahead, Eyeing New TV Deal Amid Multiple Talks With Major Networks!

So the matchup between Makhachev and Maddalena will certainly be entertaining to watch, but there was a fight that most fans wanted to see even more. Let’s see who that was against.

Did Makhachev Rob Fans of a Great Potential Showdown Versus Topuria?

While Makhachev vs. Maddalena is a fight many are looking forward to watching, there is a common belief currently that the Russian’s move up is actually disappointing. Prior to the welterweight drama, all signs were pointing towards a potential fight between him and Ilia Topuria.

Topuria had also vacated his featherweight belt, to move up to the lightweight division, to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. At first, Makhachev’s team wanted Topuria to fight lightweight contenders first, before taking on the champ. Then later, Makhachev’s team was unwilling to fight Topuria as they believed that even if Makhachev were to beat Ilia, it wouldn’t do much for his legacy as three of his title defense fights were against featherweights.

Eventually, all the build up between the two amounted to nothing, and now Ilia Topuria will instead face Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 for the vacant lightweight title. Meanwhile Makhachev has moved up and will take on Maddalena at a later date.

Topuria Says Islam Makhachev ‘Ran Away’ From Him

Ilia Topuria clearly wanted fight Makhachev inside the octagon, but now that the Russian has moved up to the welterweight division, Topuria seems disappointed to say the least. “Charles, my apologies in advance… I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away,” Topuria tweeted on X, indicating that Makhachev ducked him, and that he already believes that he’s going to defeat Oliveira at UFC 317.

Ilia Topuria says Islam Makhachev 'ran away' from him 😳

"Charles, my apologies in advance… I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away."

(via. @Topuriailia) #UFC317 pic.twitter.com/48m8EHAy2K
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 13, 2025

Also Read: UFC Owners Tease Big Moves Ahead, Eyeing New TV Deal Amid Multiple Talks With Major Networks!

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

UFC

Eric Divakaran

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nfl

mma

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