{"id":64008,"date":"2025-06-14T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=64008"},"modified":"2025-06-14T13:00:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T12:00:15","slug":"ilia-topuria-taunts-islam-makhachev-and-khabib-nurmagomedov-ahead-of-ufc-317-title-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/ilia-topuria-taunts-islam-makhachev-and-khabib-nurmagomedov-ahead-of-ufc-317-title-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cDo What You’re Told To Do\u201d – Ilia Topuria Taunts Islam Makhachev And Khabib Nurmagomedov Ahead Of UFC 317 Title Fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

The mixed martial arts world loves a good war of words, especially when it involves champions and former champions throwing shade at each other. Drama sells fights, but sometimes the trash talk goes beyond just promotion and becomes deeply personal. Ilia Topuria has never been one to back down from a verbal sparring match. The Georgian-Spanish fighter has built quite a reputation. After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski to win the featherweight title, many expected him to defend his belt a few more times before considering a move up to lightweight. But Topuria had different plans, and apparently, so did the UFC. <\/p>

His decision to jump straight into a lightweight title fight at UFC<\/a> 317 didn’t sit well with everyone, particularly two of the division’s most influential figures. Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov clearly weren’t thrilled about Topuria getting an immediate title shot at lightweight. Before UFC 315, Makhachev made it clear he wouldn’t vacate his belt even if he moved up to welterweight. He also suggested that Topuria should earn his stripes with at least one contender fight before getting a crack at the 155-pound crown. Nurmagomedov echoed those sentiments and questioned whether Topuria deserved such a quick path to lightweight gold.<\/p>

Ilia Topuria Claps Back At Team Khabib’s Retorts<\/h2>

Those comments didn’t age well, and Topuria wasn’t about to let them slide. The former featherweight champion fired back with typical bluntness in an interview with ESPN Deportes. He called out both Dagestani fighters for what he saw as hypocritical behavior. <\/p>

“Khabib and Makhachev tried to make themselves look important. They have an attitude as if they invented the sport. It’s to tell them, ‘Guys, sit back, enjoy the sun wherever you are, and do what you’re told to do.’ When they said that, I thought, ‘What are they making up? There are two days left until everything comes out…What are they talking about?’ ‘I’m not going to vacate the title even if I move up to 170 pounds. Ilia Topuria has to do at least one fight to get the world championship fight… He moved up, vacated the title, and I’m fighting directly for the belt.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

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Ilia Topuria on Islam saying he wouldn’t vacate his title:

“The attitude they have is like they invented the sport… sit back and do what you’re told…

Now look. He’s moved up, he vacated the title, and I’m fighting for the title.”

🎥 @ESPNDeportes<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wEEQriOvki<\/a><\/p>— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 13, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>