Ilia Topuria has stated he is ready to shock the world by submitting Islam Makhachev. The featherweight champion's bold claim targets the lightweight champion, who is widely regarded as one of the best grapplers in MMA. Topuria's confidence in his ability to submit Makhachev, a Dagestani grappling specialist, represents a significant callout. The post suggests skepticism about Topuria's chances, referencing the Russian song "Fantazer" (Dreamer). No concrete plans for such a bout have been announced, making this appear to be posturing rather than an imminent matchup.
Ilia Topuria has set his sights on a cross-divisional clash with Islam Makhachev, declaring publicly that he would shock the world by submitting the reigning lightweight champion.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," is the current lightweight champion and ranks first pound-for-pound in the sport. The 29-year-old Spaniard carries a 17-1 record and has built his reputation as a finisher across multiple disciplines. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he averages an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and also contributes on the mat with nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts in that same span.
Makhachev, the welterweight champion who is ranked second pound-for-pound, presents an entirely different set of challenges. The 34-year-old Russian trains out of Eagles MMA and is widely considered among the elite grapplers in mixed martial arts. He holds a 28-1 record, lands 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, all while maintaining a striking accuracy of 58 percent. His Dagestani wrestling base has neutralized some of the most dangerous fighters in the world.
The callout is notable precisely because Topuria is not targeting Makhachev on the feet — where his own striking volume is a weapon — but rather on the ground, Makhachev's most dominant terrain.
Why it matters
- Topuria at pound-for-pound number one and Makhachev at number two makes any potential meeting a true best-versus-best scenario
- A submission victory claim directly challenges Makhachev's most celebrated attribute, raising the stakes of the callout
- No fight has been officially announced, and the matchup would require a significant weight jump for Topuria moving from lightweight to welterweight
