Javier Mendez commented on a potential matchup between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. He stated that the UFC controls what happens and whether the fight gets made. According to Mendez, both fighters have expressed their desire to compete against each other. He believes this would be the most important fight of the year. The matchup depends entirely on whether the UFC decides to organize it.
AKA head coach Javier Mendez has weighed in on a potential super-fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, calling it the biggest fight the sport could produce this year.
Mendez acknowledged that both fighters want the matchup but made clear that the decision rests entirely with the UFC. Without organizational backing, the fight simply does not happen, regardless of how eager the two men are.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion out of Russia and carries a 28-1-0 record. He holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking and trains out of Eagles MMA. A southpaw with a height of five-foot-ten and a 70-inch reach, Makhachev is a relentless grappler who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He also lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy, making him dangerous in every phase.
Topuria, known as El Matador, is ranked second in the lightweight division and sits at number one on the pound-for-pound list at just 29 years old. The Spain-based Georgian carries a 17-1-0 record and trains out of Climent Club. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he fights out of the orthodox stance and generates serious volume, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is the reigning welterweight champion while Topuria is the second-ranked lightweight, making this a cross-divisional title clash with massive stakes
- Both fighters sit at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, meaning a matchup would settle a genuine claim to best fighter on the planet
- The stylistic contrast is compelling: Makhachev's elite grappling and takedown volume against Topuria's high-output striking
