Islam Makhachev is aware Ilia Topuria’s issues with him and his team may extend beyond the cage. Though he’s not exactly sure why.
During Makhachev and Topuria’s respective reigns as lightweight and featherweight champions, talk inevitably swirled of a superfight between the two given the proximity of their divisions and their seeming invincibility. Makhachev has lost just once in his career, while Topuria has never been defeated.
However, a bout is yet to materialize, with Makhachev moving up to 170
pounds and becoming champion of that division, and Topuria claiming the 155-pound title in Makhachev’s absence. Still, Topuria has continued to call for a fight with Makhachev, recently telling eldoberdanMMA he’s happy to mix it up with Makhachev and his friends, including the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“They’re so cocky and arrogant, I would really love to submit him in front of [Nurmagomedov], and if Khabib wants to step in afterward, I’ll gladly step on his head, too,” Topuria said.
Makhachev shared his thoughts on Topuria’s comments in an interview with Ushatayka.
“I don’t know, we can feel it,” Makhachev said (Russian translation via Championship Rounds) when asked if he felt Topuria was disrespectful. “He has some kind of hatred towards us, but I think we’ll sort it out. Either before the fight somehow or maybe in the future. Right now he’s on some kind of break. Maybe in the future we’ll settle it in the cage and see.”
As of now, neither Makhachev nor Topuria have booked their first title defenses for their second championships. Makhachev passed on competing at UFC 324 in January due to issues with timing, and Topuria is currently taking a hiatus from competition as he deals with personal matters.
Until the day comes where Makhachev and Topuria cross paths—whether in an official capacity or not—the welterweight champ can only guess what the extent of Topuria’s beef is with him.
“He’s unhappy about something,” Makhachev said. “We need to figure out what it is.”
