Ilia Topuria claims he's ready to shock world and choke out Islam Makhachev

Ilia Topuria has made a bold public declaration, claiming he is ready to shock the world by submitting Islam Makhachev. The Spanish featherweight-turned-lightweight contender made the statement without any accompanying fight announcement or confirmed timeline.

Topuria, known as El Matador, carries a 17-1-0 record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight division, while also holding the number one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old orthodox striker out of Spain is one of the more active offensive fighters in the sport, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and also contributes on the grappling side with 1.96 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Standing in the way is Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion from Russia with a 28-1-0 record and the number one pound-for-pound position vacated by no one above him. The 34-year-old southpaw from Eagles MMA is widely regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the world, landing strikes at 58 percent accuracy while averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — making Topuria's submission claim particularly striking given Makhachev's own elite grappling credentials.

Why it matters

• Topuria is currently ranked number one pound-for-pound, making a move up to challenge Makhachev a genuine superfight scenario
• Makhachev's grappling is among the best in the sport, adding weight to the skepticism surrounding Topuria's submission prediction
• No fight has been officially announced, so the callout remains a public declaration rather than a confirmed matchup
• A size and reach disadvantage exists for Topuria, who stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach against Makhachev's five-foot-ten and 70-inch reach