Ilia Topuria has stated that Islam Makhachev spends his time counting other people's money. Topuria claims Makhachev has now made excuses twice, suggesting a pattern of fight avoidance. According to Topuria, this behavior clearly indicates that Makhachev is trying to avoid fighting him. The post does not provide additional context about what specific excuses were made or when.
Ilia Topuria has gone public with sharp criticism of lightweight and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, accusing the Russian of repeatedly manufacturing excuses to sidestep a potential superfight between the two.
Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador," carries a 17-1 record and currently holds the number-two ranking in the lightweight division. The 29-year-old Spaniard is also ranked first in the pound-for-pound standings, a position that underscores just how seriously the sport regards him as a unified threat across divisions. He lands an aggressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and adds nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a multidimensional danger.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning champion across two divisions and enters this war of words with a 28-1 record. The Russian is pound-for-pound ranked at the top of the sport's elite tier and brings a disciplined, grappling-heavy game to the cage, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy rate. He competes out of Eagles MMA and operates from a southpaw stance.
Topuria claimed Makhachev has now offered excuses on two separate occasions to avoid the matchup, and suggested the pattern speaks for itself. He also accused Makhachev of spending his time fixating on other fighters' financial situations rather than stepping up to compete.
Why it matters
- Topuria's pound-for-pound ranking makes this a marquee crossroads fight with championship implications at 155 pounds
- A second reported instance of fight avoidance, if accurate, adds momentum to public pressure on Makhachev to respond
- The stylistic contrast between Topuria's high-volume striking and Makhachev's elite grappling sets up a compelling matchup on paper
