Islam Makhachev gets taste of own medicine as Merab Dvalishhvili urges Dagestani to fight Ilia Topuria

UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili slams pound-for-pound ace Islam Makhachev for avoiding the fight with Ilia Topuria.

Islam Makhachev gets taste of own medicine as Merab Dvalishhvili urges Dagestani to fight Ilia Topuria

Merab Dvalishvili wants Islam Makhachev to fight Ilia Topuria soon (via Imago/Instagram)

Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria remains one of the most exciting super fights fans desperately want to see soon. Despite the hype, negotiations have stalled due to unclear terms and a seeming lack of urgency from the pound-for-pound champion himself. Amid the ongoing confusion, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili seized the moment to mock Makhachev with a pointed jab.

At UFC 311, Dvalishvili fought Makhachev’s teammate, Umar Nurmagomedov, and had some exchanges with the lightweight champion. The Dagestani asked Dvalishvili to respect the belt and fight the top contender without hesitation. Now the tables have turned, and Dvalishvili’s comment suggested that Makhachev to stop ducking challenges and prove his dominance against Topuria. 

Islam told me at the press conference ‘Merab I respect you but when you have a top contender you should fight him’, and I said okay…Now he has a top contender as Ilia Topuria but he’s not fighting him…Nobody criticized Islam like they criticized me.

Merab Dvalishvili via The Ariel Helwani Show 

At UFC 311, Dvalishvili shocked the world by defeating the undefeated Nurmagomedov with relentless pressure and dominance. He nullified Nurmagomedov’s grappling, stuffed takedowns, and outwrestled him—exposing flaws in the highly praised Dagestani wrestling. 

Khabib Nurmagomedov watched in disbelief as Dvalishvili overwhelmed his protege. The bantamweight champion dismantled the myth of Dagestani invincibility by outwrestling the ‘Young Eagle.’

Post-fight, ‘The Machine’ declared Dagestani dominance “exaggerated,” sending shockwaves through MMA and humiliating Khabib’s legacy in front of global fans. He is a good friend of Topuria due to their Georgian heritage and believes the former champion can do the same. Topuria has also mocked Dagestani wrestling, saying that there was nothing special in Makhachev’s style. 

This has started a cold war between both the parties representing their respective countries and cultures. Despite all the rivalry, Makhachev has already rejected the fight once, as he wanted Topuria to prove himself. On the other hand, the former featherweight champion doesn’t want to fight anybody else apart from the champion.

The drama behind the Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev fight 

Ilia Topuria shocked the MMA world by vacating his featherweight title, proving he’s fully committed to chasing lightweight greatness. He’s repeatedly called out Islam Makhachev, claiming the Dagestani champ was avoiding him to protect his reputation and aura. Topuria insisted he’s the pound-for-pound best, stating that real champions chase challenges, not comfort zones or safe title defenses.

Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria fight delay
Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria fight delay (via Imago)

His bold moves and confident words have turned heads, making the potential clash with Makhachev the sport’s most anticipated battle. According to the Georgian-Spanish fighter, the UFC had promised him a title shot, but failed to deliver it. In a recent podcast, popular MMA journalist Ariel Helwani talked about this in detail. 

 I feel like the UFC needs to clarify the Ilia Topuria situation by Saturday. This title fight happening without any sort of resolution as to what his next step is, is weird to me. Do you know what I mean? Like, if they come out on Friday and be like, ‘It’s Ilia versus Islam. 

Ariel Helwani via his YouTube channel 

According to Helwani, without an official announcement, UFC 314’s main event feels confusing and lacks proper context altogether. This Saturday, the featherweight title is up for grabs as Alexander Volkanovski faces rising contender Diego Lopes in a thriller.

Despite being the former champion, Volkanovski enters as an underdog due to recent knockout losses and questions about his durability. Lopes, known for his explosiveness and momentum, now has the perfect opportunity to claim gold and shock the MMA world.

Related: Ilia Topuria Net Worth, UFC Contract, Endorsements, and House