Ilia Topuria has stated that he believes he would retain his featherweight title if he moved up to welterweight to face Islam Makhachev. Topuria explained that after such a fight at welterweight, he would return to the lightweight division. The comment suggests Topuria is open to exploring fights outside his current weight class while maintaining his championship status. No official plans for a Makhachev bout have been announced. Topuria's remarks indicate his confidence in competing across multiple divisions.
Ilia Topuria has declared that he would hold onto his featherweight title if he moved up in weight to challenge Islam Makhachev, adding that any such fight would take place at welterweight before he returned to compete at lightweight.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," currently sits at number two in the lightweight division and holds the number one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old Spaniard carries a 17-1-0 record and has been one of the most active strikers in the sport, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute. His comments suggest he views himself as capable of competing effectively across multiple weight classes while preserving his featherweight championship.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion and currently holds the top pound-for-pound position in the world. The Russian fighter out of Eagles MMA owns a 28-1-0 record and brings a suffocating grappling game to the cage, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 58 percent. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, he holds notable physical advantages over Topuria, who measures five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach.
No official bout agreement has been announced, and the matchup remains without a confirmed timeline.
Why it matters
- Topuria moving to welterweight would mean a two-division weight jump from his featherweight base, making the physical size gap significant
- Makhachev currently reigns at welterweight, so any fight between the two would carry unified championship implications across multiple divisions
- A clash between the top two pound-for-pound fighters on the roster would represent one of the highest-stakes matchups the sport could produce
- Topuria's insistence on retaining his featherweight title adds a layer of negotiation complexity to any potential agreement
