Ilia Topuria’s move to the lightweight division has grabbed attention, especially since it’s already one of the toughest weight classes in the UFC. However, with his knockout power, many believe that ‘La Leyenda’ is capable of putting anyone to sleep—including Dustin Poirier. While making the transition, Topuria also claimed that Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira fear him, as no one has shown interest in fighting him.
UFC veteran Daniel Cormier has pushed back against Ilia Topuria’s claim that elite lightweights like Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira fear him. While acknowledging Topuria’s talent, Cormier disagrees with the idea that fear plays a role.
“Ilia Topuria might strike some fear in most, or some, Islam’s not afraid of him. And I’ll be honest with you: Neither is Justin Gaethje. Neither is Charles Oliveira. Neither is Dustin Poirier, or Michael Chandler. Those guys aren’t afraid of each other,” DC said on his YouTube channel.
Cormier mentioned that he understands why Makhachev might hesitate to fight Topuria, given past criticism of his opponents being undersized or unprepared. However, he believes a fight between them would be a massive draw, and if money is the focus, the UFC should take the matchup seriously.
Ilia Topuria Doubles Down On Bold Claim, Says Islam Makhachev Wants No Part of Him
Islam Makhachev has often told challengers they need to make 155 and step into the cage before calling for a fight. He has directed this at fighters from other divisions, including Topuria. However, now that Topuria has moved up to lightweight, he’s struggling to secure a fight and believes Makhachev is avoiding him. In a recent interview Topuria said,
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
“I’m preparing for Islam Makhachev. They say champs fight whoever they’re told to and then they say he’s too small to fight. I switch weight classes, they say I’m small now. Then they say I haven’t earned it yet. Well, these are signs of fear, we all know it. But it’s normal, I’d be scared too,” Topuria said.
Ilia Topuria: "I am preparing for Makhachev fight but he is afraid"
— Álvaro Colmenero (@KOlmeneroMMA) March 27, 2025
"The options are Islam or Charles"
Credit: ABC MMA & Álvaro Colmenero pic.twitter.com/MvsPZ5nhq1
Despite his confidence, Topuria has defended his title only once, which doesn’t guarantee an automatic shot at Makhachev, who recently defeated Renato Moicano. With the lightweight division in flux, fans will have to wait and see what happens next.
Also Read: Charles Oliveira Drops A Bold Prediction About Conor McGregor’s UFC Future
