Ilia Topuria has publicly stated that Islam Makhachev is focused on counting other people's money rather than fighting. Topuria claims Makhachev has made excuses on two separate occasions, suggesting a pattern of fight avoidance. According to Topuria, this behavior clearly indicates that Makhachev is trying to avoid facing him in the octagon. The featherweight champion's comments add to the ongoing verbal sparring between the two fighters. No specific fight agreement or timeline is mentioned in the statement.
