Ilia Topuria has publicly stated that Islam Makhachev is busy counting other people's money instead of fighting. Topuria accused Makhachev of making excuses, noting this is the second time he has done so. The featherweight champion suggested that Makhachev's repeated excuses make it appear he is deliberately avoiding a potential fight. While the post does not specify what excuses Makhachev has made, Topuria's comments indicate growing tension between the two champions. No specific event or timeline for a potential matchup was mentioned.
Ilia Topuria has gone public with sharp criticism of Islam Makhachev, accusing the welterweight champion of dodging a potential fight and hiding behind excuses for the second time.
Topuria, known as El Matador, enters this dispute as the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to the AgentMMA database. The 29-year-old Spaniard competes at lightweight and carries a 17-1-0 record. He lands an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and has established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport, currently ranked second in the lightweight division.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion out of Russia with a 28-1-0 record and holds the top pound-for-pound ranking below Topuria. The Dagestan native is a technically complete fighter, connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes while also averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — a grappling threat that makes him dangerous across all phases. He trains out of Eagles MMA and fights out of a southpaw stance.
Topuria's public statement accused Makhachev of being more interested in other fighters' finances than in actually competing, framing the repeated deflections as a deliberate pattern of avoidance. The featherweight — now apparently campaigning at lightweight — made clear this is the second occasion Makhachev has offered excuses when a matchup has been discussed.
Why it matters
- Topuria holds the number-one pound-for-pound spot, giving a potential cross-division clash enormous prestige
- A fight between two reigning champions would carry rare promotional weight regardless of which title is on the line
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Topuria's high-volume striking output against Makhachev's elite wrestling and submission pressure
- No event, date, or formal negotiations have been confirmed, leaving the matchup firmly in the realm of public callouts
