Right now in the UFC, one of the hottest topics is the potential fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. Fans are buzzing, but it seems like Team Khabib isn’t fully on board with the idea just yet. While there’s still hesitation from their side, Ilia Topuria hasn’t held back. He recently shared his thoughts on how the fight would go—and he’s confident it would be all in his favor.
Topuria believes a potential fight with Makhachev would be one-sided in his favor. He’s confident that Makhachev wouldn’t be able to land a takedown and would quickly regret stepping in the cage with him. Topuria suggests that Makhachev is avoiding the fight because he knows the threat Topuria poses. It’s clear Topuria sees himself as a serious challenge for the lightweight champion.
“I don’t think he’ll even touch my legs, because the first thing he feels, he’ll want me to send him back to Russia…The only reason he doesn’t want to fight me is because he knows I’m going to beat him,” he said.
Ilia Topuria on a potential fight against Islam Makhachev:
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 9, 2025
“I don’t think he’ll even touch my legs, because the first thing he feels, he’ll want me to send him back to Russia…
The only reason he doesn’t want to fight me is because he knows I’m going to beat him.” 👀🍿
🎥… pic.twitter.com/k0hELTCGkV
While Topuria is talking like it would be a cakewalk, and considering how dominant he looked against fighters like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, the hype is understandable. But Islam Makhachev is a different kind of challenge, arguably the toughest test Topuria would ever face.
Ex-UFC Title Challenger Feels Ilia Topuria Would Be A Threat Against Islam Makhachev
In a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Arman Tsarukyan shared his thoughts on a potential fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. He highlighted Topuria’s shorter stature, which could make it difficult for Islam to land his takedowns. Tsarukyan also noted Topuria’s power, stating that he could knock Islam out at any moment. He made it clear that if the fight were offered to him, he’d start preparing for it immediately, showing his readiness and confidence.
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With Islam’s elite grappling, size, and experience at lightweight, this wouldn’t just be another fight—it would be a real proving ground for Topuria. However, there’s no doubt that ‘El Matador’ is giving off the vibe that he believes he can take Islam down. His confidence, combined with his striking power and aggressive style, suggests he’s ready to take on the challenge and prove he belongs at the top.
Also Read: UFC Legend Believes No One Will Strip Islam Makhachev’s Title Thanks To Khabib Nurmagomedov
