Ilia Topuria has stated he is prepared to shock the world by submitting Islam Makhachev. The post does not provide context on whether this is a formal callout or where the statement was made. The original Russian post includes a humorous reference questioning whether Topuria has listened to a song called "Dreamer," suggesting skepticism about the claim. Details on any potential matchup timeline or weight class considerations are not mentioned in the source material.
Ilia Topuria has gone on record claiming he would stun the combat sports world by submitting Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, in what appears to be a bold public callout made on April 21, 2026.
Topuria, nicknamed El Matador, enters the conversation as the number-one ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the AgentMMA rankings. The 29-year-old Spaniard holds a 17-1-0 professional record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight division. Fighting out of Climent Club in an orthodox stance, he stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and produces one of the highest striking volumes in MMA, averaging 4.81 significant strikes landed per minute. He also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, giving some credibility to the finishing method he is claiming against Makhachev.
Makhachev, the current welterweight champion representing Eagles MMA, is a 34-year-old southpaw from Russia carrying a 28-1-0 record. He stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and is ranked first pound-for-pound on the platform. His wrestling-oriented game produces 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, and he also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes himself, making the submission claim from Topuria particularly striking. He connects on 58 percent of his significant strikes, among the highest accuracy marks in the sport.
It is worth noting that the original statement apparently carried a humorous undertone, with a Russian-language post questioning whether Topuria had been listening to a song called "Dreamer," signaling some skepticism toward the claim in certain corners. No formal negotiations, timeline, or weight class details were mentioned in connection with the potential matchup.
Why it matters
- Topuria is a lightweight calling out a welterweight champion, making a potential clash a cross-divisional bout
- A win for either fighter would carry enormous pound-for-pound implications, given both rank inside the top two
- Makhachev's submission-heavy grappling game against Topuria's stated submission threat sets up an intriguing stylistic debate
