Dana White asks Ilia Topuria to Pump Brakes on Chasing Islam Makhachev at 170-pound Division

UFC CEO Dana White doesn't like the idea of Ilia Topuria going against Islam Makhachev for now.

Dana White asks Ilia Topuria to Pump Brakes on Chasing Islam Makhachev at 170-pound Division

Dana White doesn't want Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev so early (via X)

The UFC’s next potential superfight is Islam Makhachev versus Ilia Topuria, especially after Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall fell apart. Although Makhachev vacated his lightweight belt and moved up, Topuria has persistently mocked him, fueling a heated rivalry. Despite the growing fan interest, Dana White recently confirmed that this anticipated fight is currently not a UFC priority.

One of Topuria’s biggest dreams was to finish the Dagestani aura by defeating Makhachev with his own unique fighting style. In a recent interview, the fighter talked about potentially moving up again and settling his unfinished business with Makhachev at the presser. During the recent UFC Baku event, Dana White was asked this question and he didn’t seem very much interested at all.

We’ll see how this thing plays out. He just moved up. Let’s see how he does in this fight and what Islam does and they definitely wanna fight each other.

Currently, Topuria is scheduled to face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight title at UFC 317. The hype surrounding this anticipated fight is massive, drawing attention from fans, fighters, and analysts alike. Topuria confidently promised to extend his impressive knockout streak against the Brazilian and finally capture the lightweight gold.

On the other hand, Makhachev is now preparing for his upcoming welterweight title clash against new champion Jack Della Maddalena. Given his dominant lightweight reign and complete skill set, the Dagestani remains a strong fan favorite for winning this fight. However, based on his last performance, many believe Della Maddalena will present a much tougher challenge than expected.

Makhachev’s coach has guaranteed the fight will take place this year, urging fans to remain patient and stay tuned. The pound-for-pound star also expressed interest in potentially facing Topuria after successfully handling his current welterweight title challenge. However, it remains to be seen if the UFC can successfully arrange what could become the biggest fight currently available.

Ilia Topuria predicts his fight with Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira is deeply loved by UFC fans for his thrilling fighting style and humble, respectful personality inside and outside the octagon. His exciting title reign featured dramatic victories, including submission wins that solidified his reputation as an elite, entertaining champion. Oliveira eventually lost his belt to Islam Makhachev, who dominated him with superior grappling and secured a decisive submission victory.

Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira (via X)

Following that loss, Oliveira made an impressive comeback with a first-round knockout against Beneil Dariush. With his recent victory over Michael Chandler, Oliveira feels highly confident about securing another crucial win at the upcoming UFC 317. However, Ilia Topuria has already visualized every detail of the fight, believing he has completely figured out Oliveira’s weaknesses and patterns.

He walks forward. I’m not gonna need to close the distance with him. It’s gonna be a first round finish.

Oliveira has shown a tendency to get knocked down in multiple fights, including against Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev. Despite his excellent recovery and ground game, these knockdowns reveal defensive vulnerabilities that could be dangerous against Topuria’s knockout power. Topuria’s precision and aggression make him a serious threat if Oliveira gets dropped again, potentially not allowing recovery time.

Against a striker like Ilia Topuria, Oliveira might have to change his past habits in order to survive and potentially win. Many veterans and analysts have sided with Topuria to win the bout, particularly for his boxing skills.