Ilia Topuria didn’t take long to respond to UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev’s recent comments about a potential fight.
UFC titleholders Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev could be on a collision course in 2026.
Topuria, who hasn’t fought since winning the then-vacant lightweight belt at UFC 317, is expecting to return to the cage in the next few months. After fighting the Pimblett vs. Gaethje winner, Topuria could make the move to 170 lbs to fight Makhachev in a massive super fight.
Topuria and Makhachev’s careers have intertwined since the former UFC featherweight titleholder announced his full-time move to lightweight last year. Makhachev opted to move up to welterweight after Belal Muhammad’s loss to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, indefinitely postponing a potential clash with Topuria.
Makhachev recently claimed that a fight with Topuria wouldn’t take place at lightweight, and he intends to fight at welterweight for the remainder of his career. He’s repeatedly dismissed Topuria’s grappling in previous comments, and the lightweight champ responded on social media.
Ilia Topuria: Islam Makhachev couldn’t ‘submit me in his dreams’
After one X follower said that Makhachev would submit him in a potential title showdown, Topuria scoffed at the possibility.
“Not even in his dreams,” Topuria said.
“He’s bad even at dreaming.”
As of this writing, Makhachev hasn’t responded to Topuria’s remarks. He’s called for a welterweight title defense against former titleholder Kamaru Usman later this year.
This isn’t the first time that Topuria has made bold predictions about a potential clash with Makhachev. He’s previously promised to knock out Makhachev in Topuria’s latest exuded confidence.
Topuria remains unbeaten in his UFC career and seems on a likely clash with the Gaethje vs. Pimblett winner. Topuria and Pimblett have been longtime rivals, dating back to a hotel altercation in 2022.
After Topuria’s lightweight tenure, don’t be surprised if a fight with Makhachev is on the horizon.
