Ilia Topuria said he does not think his potential fight with Islam Makhachev will fail to happen because of Makhachev. Topuria stated he believes the UFC does not want the fight to take place.
Ilia Topuria has publicly pointed the finger at the UFC's front office over the failure to book a showdown with Islam Makhachev, saying he believes the promotion itself is standing in the way of the fight rather than the lightweight champion.
Topuria, known as El Matador, made the comments as he continues to pursue what would be one of the most high-profile bouts in recent memory. The 29-year-old Spaniard holds a 17-1-0 record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight division, while also ranking first in the pound-for-pound standings. He is one of the more active strikers in the sport, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and has shown a well-rounded game that includes nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion with a 28-1-0 record and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter displaced only by Topuria in those same rankings. The Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA and fights out of a southpaw stance, is a dominant grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes along with 1.1 submission attempts. His striking accuracy sits at an elite 58 percent, landing 2.63 significant strikes per minute.
Topuria was clear that he holds no grievance with Makhachev personally, framing the obstacle as an organizational one rather than a lack of willingness from the champion's side.
Why it matters
- A Topuria-Makhachev fight would pit the top two pound-for-pound fighters against each other, with massive divisional and legacy stakes for both men.
- Topuria would be moving up from lightweight to welterweight, adding a cross-divisional dimension to the matchup.
- The contrasting styles — Topuria's high-volume striking against Makhachev's suffocating grappling — make for a compelling stylistic clash.
