Ilia Topuria has pointed the finger at the UFC for the collapse of a potential superfight with Islam Makhachev. The featherweight champion indicated the promotion is responsible for the matchup not moving forward as his next bout. Topuria had been publicly campaigning for the high-profile clash with the lightweight champion.
Ilia Topuria has publicly blamed the UFC for derailing a potential superfight between himself and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, stating the promotion bears responsibility for the high-profile matchup not being booked as his next outing.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," had been vocal about his desire to cross divisional lines and challenge Makhachev. The 29-year-old Spaniard carries a 17-1 record and currently sits at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings, competing out of the lightweight division where he holds a ranking of second. He is one of the more active offensive fighters on the roster, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and also threatens on the mat with nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion out of Russia and trains with Eagles MMA. The Dagestan native holds a 28-1 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings at number zero, making him the sport's consensus best fighter. His grappling-heavy style averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, and he lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy clip, among the highest in the division.
Why it matters
- A superfight between the top two pound-for-pound fighters would be one of the most significant bouts in recent UFC history.
- Topuria moving up to challenge Makhachev would pit a high-volume striker against one of the most complete grapplers in the sport.
- With Topuria placing blame directly on the UFC, the matchup's future timeline now appears uncertain, leaving both divisional title pictures in a state of flux.
- Makhachev's welterweight status and Topuria's lightweight ranking add a cross-divisional layer that complicates how the UFC structures its upcoming cards.
