Islam Makhachev has publicly expressed frustration over what he calls fabricated narratives from Ilia Topuria's team regarding their potential fight. Makhachev claims he accepted a fight at the White House event, but the next day was told Topuria requested an unrealistic sum of money. According to Makhachev, the UFC rejected this request and Topuria withdrew from the bout. He says even Topuria's manager confirmed this version of events. Makhachev is now calling out Topuria for changing his story in every new interview and urging him to stop talking, insisting that Topuria pulled out of the fight and knows it.
Islam Makhachev has gone public with his frustration over what he describes as a pattern of false narratives coming from Ilia Topuria's camp surrounding their stalled superfight negotiations.
Makhachev, the 34-year-old Russian who holds the welterweight championship and carries a 28-1 record, says he agreed to fight at the White House event, only to learn the following day that Topuria had demanded a financial figure the UFC deemed unrealistic. According to Makhachev, the promotion rejected the request and Topuria withdrew from the bout entirely. The Eagles MMA standout adds that even Topuria's own manager corroborated this account, leaving him baffled by the conflicting public statements coming from the Georgian-Spanish fighter's side. Makhachev averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the most complete fighters in the sport regardless of division.
Topuria, ranked number one pound-for-pound and second in the lightweight division at 29 years old, carries a 17-1 record fighting out of Spain under the Climent Club banner. The southpaw-countering orthodox striker is among the most dangerous finishers in the UFC, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute. He has not publicly responded to Makhachev's latest comments, though Makhachev insists Topuria has been offering a different version of events in each new interview he gives.
Makhachev is calling on Topuria to stop talking publicly and acknowledge, in his words, that Topuria pulled out and knows it.
Why it matters
- A potential matchup between the pound-for-pound number one and the lightweight champion would carry enormous cross-divisional stakes
- Topuria's number two lightweight ranking and top P4P status mean any movement toward or away from this fight reshapes the landscape of two divisions
- The public dispute over who bears responsibility for the fight falling apart could influence how the UFC structures its next title booking for both men
