Ilia Topuria believes he would retain his featherweight championship even if he moves up in weight to fight Islam Makhachev at welterweight. The Georgian-Spanish champion stated that everything would be different if he moved to welterweight because he plans to return to the lightweight division after such a bout. This statement suggests Topuria is open to a superfight with Makhachev while maintaining his position as featherweight king. The comment reflects Topuria's confidence in being able to compete across multiple weight classes. No timeline or official negotiations for such a matchup have been announced.
Ilia Topuria has declared that he would hold onto his featherweight title even if he steps up to welterweight to face Islam Makhachev, adding fresh fuel to speculation surrounding one of MMA's most anticipated potential superfights.
Topuria, known as El Matador, is the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to current rankings. The 29-year-old Spanish champion carries a 17-1-0 record and competes in the lightweight division, where he is ranked second. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he is one of the most active strikers in the sport, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute. His reasoning is straightforward: a move to welterweight would be a one-off excursion, with a return to lightweight planned afterward, making vacating his featherweight belt unnecessary in his view.
On the other side of the proposed matchup stands Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the current top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter. The 34-year-old Russian carries a 28-1-0 record and represents one of the most complete fighters in the world, posting a 58 percent striking accuracy while averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes. Training out of Eagles MMA, the southpaw presents elite grappling threats that would challenge any opponent regardless of division.
Why it matters
- A Topuria vs. Makhachev bout would pit the top two pound-for-pound fighters against each other, giving it immediate superfight status.
- Topuria's insistence on keeping his featherweight title adds a significant contractual and political dimension to any potential negotiation.
- The size gap is notable — Makhachev is a welterweight champion while Topuria is a natural featherweight moving through lightweight, raising real questions about how a catchweight or full welterweight contest would be structured.
No official negotiations or timeline for the fight have been announced.
