Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has declared that he is prepared to shock the world by submitting Islam Makhachev. Topuria's bold claim targets the lightweight champion, who is widely regarded as one of the best grapplers in MMA. The post questions whether Topuria has been listening to the song "Fantazer" (Dreamer), suggesting skepticism about his ability to submit Makhachev. No timeline or confirmation of an actual fight between the two champions was provided. Topuria's statement represents his continued confidence and willingness to challenge top fighters across divisions.
Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has publicly declared that he intends to submit Islam Makhachev, the reigning lightweight titleholder, making a bold cross-divisional callout that has drawn widespread skepticism.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," holds a 17-1-0 record and currently competes at featherweight, though the AgentMMA database lists him at lightweight with a divisional ranking of second. The 29-year-old Spaniard out of Climent Club sits at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings and has been among the most active offensive fighters in the sport, landing an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he averages 1.96 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Makhachev, 34, fights out of Russia under the Eagles MMA banner and carries a 28-1-0 record while holding the lightweight title and sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The southpaw stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and has built his reputation on elite grappling, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while also posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent. He is widely considered one of the most complete grapplers currently competing in mixed martial arts.
Topuria's claim that he can submit Makhachev was met with instant doubt in some corners, with detractors suggesting he may be a "Dreamer" for targeting the lightweight champion's strongest attribute. No fight has been officially scheduled or confirmed between the two.
Why it matters
- A cross-divisional clash would pit the top two pound-for-pound fighters against each other
- Topuria would need to move up a weight class to face Makhachev at lightweight
- The matchup sets a grappling-versus-grappling dynamic, with Makhachev holding a significant size and submission volume edge
- Confirmation of the bout would be one of the most anticipated champion-versus-champion fights in recent UFC history
