Ilia Topuria stated he is not disappointed that his fight against Islam Makhachev at the White House event fell through. Topuria revealed that just hours before the full card announcement at the White House, he knew he would be fighting Makhachev and expected the bout to be officially announced. However, he received a phone call informing him that Makhachev had sustained an injury and he would instead fight Michael Chandler. Topuria went to sleep believing he would face Makhachev, only to be woken by numerous phone calls with the news of the change. He expressed belief that the fight should happen eventually.
Ilia Topuria has revealed that a blockbuster matchup against Islam Makhachev was within hours of being officially announced at the White House event before an injury to the champion derailed the plan entirely.
Topuria, who carries a 17-1-0 record and currently holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking at just 29 years old, said he went to sleep fully expecting to face Makhachev on the card. He woke to a barrage of phone calls informing him the fight was off. The Spaniard, ranked second in the lightweight division, expressed that he harbors no disappointment and believes the matchup should still happen down the line. He will instead face Michael Chandler.
Makhachev, the 34-year-old Russian welterweight champion fighting out of Eagles MMA, holds a 28-1-0 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. He lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate and averages 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes, making him one of the most complete fighters on the roster. An undisclosed injury reportedly forced him out of the White House event.
Stepping in as Topuria's opponent is Michael Chandler, the 40-year-old American known as "Iron." Chandler brings a 23-11-0 record and one of the highest output rates in the sport at 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute. He fights out of Kill Cliff FC and stands five-foot-eight with a 71-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Topuria vs. Makhachev was set to be a championship unification clash of two pound-for-pound elite fighters
- The late change reshuffles lightweight title picture and leaves Makhachev's next appearance uncertain
- Topuria vs. Chandler pits the division's number-two ranked contender against a high-octane finisher with contrasting styles
