Islam Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion, has a clear message for featherweight fighter Ilia Topuria—stick to your own division and avoid making things personal. Recently, Topuria has been making bold statements and calling for high-profile fights, not only against Conor McGregor but also targeting Makhachev.
Topuria’s comments have gained traction, especially his remarks about potentially moving up to the 155-pound division to challenge Makhachev. In a recent interview with MatchTV, Makhachev addressed Topuria’s persistence. He warned Topuria about crossing “personal boundaries” and advised the Spaniard to focus on the UFC‘s 145-pound featherweight division instead of venturing into lightweight territory.
Topuria Eyes Lightweight Division
Topuria’s interest in the lightweight division isn’t new. During a recent Q&A session, Topuria hinted at testing himself against the UFC lightweight elite. He even suggested that in a street fight, he could get the upper hand against Makhachev but would prefer to fight him in a sanctioned UFC bout. His reasoning? To avoid paying for Makhachev’s medical bills.
This fiery exchange has sparked reactions from Makhachev’s camp, particularly from his teammate, Usman Nurmagomedov, the Bellator lightweight champion.
Usman Nurmagomedov Fires Back
Usman Nurmagomedov, a close ally of Islam Makhachev, wasn’t too pleased with Topuria’s comments. He took to social media to respond to the Spaniard’s bold remarks about street fighting and lightweight matchups. Nurmagomedov jabbed back on Instagram, which caught Topuria’s attention.
Topuria responded by bringing up a past controversy involving Nurmagomedov. He referenced a failed drug test where Nurmagomedov tested positive for a prescription drug containing a banned substance. Though the Bellator champion was suspended for six months, he kept his title due to what was ruled as accidental ingestion.
Topuria’s Focus on UFC Featherweight Title Defense
While Ilia Topuria may be eyeing a future in the UFC lightweight division, he currently has his hands full. After claiming the UFC featherweight title with a knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, he is set to defend his title for the first time. Topuria will face former champion Max Holloway at UFC 308 on October 26, 2024.
For now, Islam Makhachev remains firm in his advice: focus on your weight class and steer clear of making personal remarks.
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