Ilia Topuria has made a bold prediction that he is ready to shock the world by choking out Islam Makhachev. The featherweight champion's statement suggests confidence in his grappling abilities against the lightweight champion. The post includes a humorous reference asking if Topuria has listened to a song called "Dreamer," implying skepticism about his chances. Details about when or if this fight might actually happen were not provided. The post appears to be commentary on Topuria's ambitious callout rather than an announcement of a scheduled bout.
Ilia Topuria has staked out an audacious position, publicly declaring that he will submit Islam Makhachev if the two champions ever share the cage. The featherweight king made the prediction on April 21, 2026, insisting he is prepared to choke out the reigning welterweight champion — a claim that drew immediate skepticism from corners of the MMA world.
Topuria, 29, carries a 17-1-0 record and holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Georgian-born Spaniard, known as "El Matador," is currently ranked second in the lightweight division and competes out of Climent Club. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he is one of the more active strikers in the sport, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — the latter figure lending at least some credibility to his grappling-based confidence.
Makhachev, 34, is the welterweight champion and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings at number zero, holding a 28-1-0 record. The Russian, who trains with Eagles MMA, is widely regarded as one of the premier grapplers in the UFC. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and also logs 1.1 submission attempts in that same window, all while landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate — the highest of any fighter involved in this story.
Why it matters
- Topuria is currently ranked at lightweight, making a cross-divisional super-fight against Makhachev a significant jump in both weight and competitive terrain.
- A victory for either man would carry enormous pound-for-pound implications, with both sitting at the very top of those rankings.
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Makhachev's elite wrestling and submission game against Topuria's aggressive striking output and submission threat creates a genuinely compelling matchup on paper.
- No fight date, promotional agreement, or official confirmation has been announced.
