Ilia Topuria stated that Islam Makhachev is focused on counting other people's money rather than fighting. Topuria accused Makhachev of making excuses to avoid their potential matchup. According to Topuria, this is the second time Makhachev has offered excuses, suggesting a pattern of avoidance. The Georgian champion believes Makhachev is deliberately sidestepping a bout between them. No specific details about what excuses were referenced or when a potential fight might occur were provided in the post.
Ilia Topuria has publicly called out Islam Makhachev, accusing the welterweight champion of dodging their potential fight and caring more about other fighters' earnings than stepping into the cage with him.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," is currently ranked number two in the lightweight division and holds the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old Spanish-Georgian fighter carries a 17-1-0 record and has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute. He trains out of Climent Club and fights out of an orthodox stance with a 69-inch reach.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion and holds a 28-1-0 record, fighting out of Eagles MMA in Russia. The southpaw stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and is a well-rounded threat, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 2.63 significant strikes per minute and a 58 percent striking accuracy. He holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings — a position Topuria is directly challenging.
Topuria stated that Makhachev has now offered excuses to avoid the matchup on two separate occasions, framing it as a deliberate pattern of avoidance rather than scheduling circumstance. He also accused the champion of fixating on money rather than competing.
Why it matters
- A win for either fighter would cement their claim as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world
- Topuria moving up from lightweight to face the welterweight champion would be a significant weight-class jump, raising the divisional stakes considerably
- The stylistic contrast is sharp — Makhachev's grappling-heavy, high-accuracy approach against Topuria's high-volume striking and submission threat
