Ilia Topuria stated that Islam Makhachev is focused on counting other people's money. Topuria claims Makhachev has made excuses once before, and now they have appeared a second time. According to Topuria, this pattern suggests that Makhachev is deliberately avoiding a fight with him. The details of what specific excuses Topuria is referring to are not provided in the post.
Ilia Topuria has publicly accused Islam Makhachev of dodging a potential superfight, claiming the lightweight champion has now offered excuses on two separate occasions to avoid facing him.
Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador," enters this dispute as one of the sport's most dangerous offensive fighters. The 29-year-old Spaniard holds a 17-1 record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight division, while ranking first pound-for-pound on the AgentMMA platform. Training out of Climent Club, the five-foot-seven orthodox striker averages an eye-catching 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and his finishing ability has made him one of the most talked-about names in the sport regardless of division.
Makhachev, meanwhile, remains the reigning welterweight champion with a 28-1 record and holds the number-one pound-for-pound spot on the global rankings. The 34-year-old Russian, fighting out of Eagles MMA, is a technically complete fighter who blends elite grappling — averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — with sharp striking at 58 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, he has long been regarded as the best active fighter on the planet.
Topuria's public remarks stopped short of spelling out exactly what excuses Makhachev has allegedly put forward, but he made clear he believes a pattern has formed. He framed Makhachev's behavior as a deliberate avoidance strategy, pointedly accusing the champion of being more focused on other fighters' financial situations than on competing with him.
Why it matters
- Topuria is the number-one pound-for-pound fighter and a legitimate crossover draw for a superfight
- A second perceived excuse from Makhachev's camp, if accurate, could increase public pressure on the champion to engage
- The stylistic contrast — Topuria's volume striking versus Makhachev's grappling dominance — makes the matchup one of the most compelling potential bouts in the sport
