Ilia Topuria has stated that he is ready to shock the world by submitting Islam Makhachev. The post, shared by the IgorKakDela channel, questions Topuria's bold claim with a reference to a song called "Fantazer" (Dreamer). The details of when or where this potential fight might take place are not mentioned in the post. This represents another callout in the ongoing narrative of potential super-fights between champions across different weight divisions. No additional context about negotiations or actual fight plans was provided.
Ilia Topuria has turned up the volume on his pursuit of Islam Makhachev, publicly declaring that he will submit the reigning welterweight champion and shock the combat sports world in the process.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," enters any such conversation as one of the sport's most compelling figures. The 29-year-old Spaniard holds a 17-1-0 record and currently sits second in the lightweight division while ranking first in the pound-for-pound standings. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he generates an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, showing the kind of well-rounded offensive game that makes his submission claim credible on paper.
Makhachev, meanwhile, has built a case as one of the most complete fighters on the planet. The 34-year-old Russian trains out of Eagles MMA and carries a 28-1-0 record as the welterweight champion, sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings just ahead of Topuria. At five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, he lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making his grappling-heavy style one of the toughest puzzles in mixed martial arts. Notably, Topuria's stated submission path would run directly through that same elite ground game.
Why it matters
- A cross-divisional matchup would pit the pound-for-pound number one against the number two, with global bragging rights on the line.
- Topuria would need to move up to welterweight or convince Makhachev to drop to lightweight, adding a weight negotiation layer to any potential booking.
- Topuria's submission attempt rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes suggests he is not merely talking — he actively hunts finishes on the mat, though Makhachev's own submission rate is identical, and his defensive wrestling is elite.
- No fight date, venue, or promotional confirmation has been announced, leaving this firmly in the callout stage.
