Ilia Topuria has publicly stated that Islam Makhachev is preoccupied with counting other people's money rather than focusing on fighting. The featherweight champion claims this is the second time Makhachev has made excuses, suggesting a pattern of avoidance. Topuria believes Makhachev's behavior indicates he is deliberately trying to avoid facing him. The verbal exchange continues the ongoing rivalry between the two champions across different weight classes.
Ilia Topuria escalated his public campaign against Islam Makhachev on April 11, accusing the welterweight champion of repeatedly manufacturing excuses to sidestep a cross-divisional showdown between two of the sport's most decorated titleholders.
Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador," currently holds a 17-1-0 record and sits at number two in the lightweight division while ranking first in the pound-for-pound standings. The 29-year-old Spaniard out of Climent Club has built one of the most dangerous offensive profiles in the sport, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute. In his public statement, he mocked Makhachev for being more interested in counting other fighters' earnings than in stepping into the cage with him, and pointedly noted that this marks the second time the Russian champion has offered what Topuria views as pretextual objections.
Makhachev, 34, represents Russia and trains with Eagles MMA. The southpaw champion carries a 28-1-0 record and currently holds the welterweight title, making him one of the most accomplished fighters on the roster. He is a technically disciplined grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes — a remarkable accuracy figure. His pound-for-pound ranking sits just behind Topuria's.
Why it matters
- A potential superfight would pit the pound-for-pound number one against the pound-for-pound number two, with cross-divisional bragging rights at stake.
- Topuria's repeated callouts, and his claim of a pattern of avoidance, increase public pressure on Makhachev and UFC matchmakers to respond.
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Topuria's volume striking against Makhachev's elite grappling and takedown efficiency would present a genuine clash of combat philosophies.
