Ilia Topuria has stated that he is ready to shock the world by submitting Islam Makhachev. The post offers limited additional details about the context or timing of this callout. The commentary accompanying the claim suggests skepticism about Topuria's confidence in this potential matchup. This represents a bold challenge from the featherweight champion targeting the lightweight champion. The exact circumstances or interview where Topuria made this statement are not specified in the source material.
Ilia Topuria has publicly declared that he can submit Islam Makhachev, issuing a bold cross-divisional callout targeting the reigning welterweight champion.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," carries a 17-1-0 record and currently holds the number two ranking in the lightweight division, where he competes. The 29-year-old Spaniard sits at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings and has built his reputation as one of the sport's most dangerous finishers. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, underlining the well-rounded threat he poses. At five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he would enter any potential matchup as the smaller man.
Makhachev, 34, is the welterweight champion out of Russia, training under Eagles MMA. He owns a 28-1-0 record and sits at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. The southpaw is widely regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes. He also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes himself, making Topuria's specific prediction of a submission finish a particularly striking choice of words.
Why it matters
- Topuria's callout targets the pound-for-pound king, raising the stakes of any potential super-fight negotiation
- A move from lightweight to welterweight would require Topuria to step up two weight classes
- Makhachev's elite grappling makes Topuria's submission prediction a direct challenge to the champion's greatest strength
- The matchup would pit the top two fighters in the pound-for-pound rankings against each other
