Dana White Gives Opinion on ‘Massive’ Ilia Topuria Vs. Islam Makhachev Superfight with Condition Added

Given Islam Makhachev has his 170-pound title challenge in the bag secured, Dana White open to the idea of an Ilia Topuria PPV title fight.

Dana White Gives Opinion on ‘Massive’ Ilia Topuria Vs. Islam Makhachev Superfight with Condition Added

Dana White open to huge Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria matchup (Source: X/IMAGO)

Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev still remains one of the biggest cases of a possible PPV super fight. Such a clash was supposed to go down when Topuria vacated the stake to his 145-pound gold to challenge then-divisional king Islam Makhachev at lightweight. However, the latter opted for a similar shift up to 170 pounds. Nevertheless, Dana White is seemingly on board if certain conditions are met.

Given his run at the 155-pound limit and momentum as a former #1 pound-for-pound, Islam Makhachev is expected to earn a title crack at champ Jack Della Maddalena. It will go down sometime later down the year, with the Dagestani being on tap for the usual October PPV slot at Saudi Arabia (UFC 321 PPV lineup is slated for Etihad Area).

For his part, Ilia Topuria knocked the winds off former titleholder Charles Olveira at the UFC 317 PPV main event to establish his dominance. He is now 3-0 in straight title campaigns (one logged at the 155-pound limit). If Makhachev can similarly punctuate a title win at welterweight and continue yet another title reign, UFC execs could be open to a super fight. CEO Dana White sees no reason why not:

Another massive fight [now] would be Ilia vs. Islam, …Obviously, if Islam wins the title, you immediately have a superfight between him and Ilia. These are options that we have if things play out that way, but you never know what’s going to happen.

Dana White on the Full Send Podcast

Dana White has also snubbed the option with work left in his own division. However, it is yet unknown if 155-pounder Ilia Topuria will be allowed to climb yet another division to challenge him there. After the PPV, “El Matador” told the media scrum that he promised UFC that he won’t leave the division hanging.

However, it is reported that the Spanish fighter’s power comes from his natural hydration and bone density, grazing marginally near competition welterweights! So, if Topuria can make 170 pounds to challenge him there, it would only add to the buzz of such a PPV title bout.

While a win over JDM could substantially open doors, Islam Makhachev has been snubbed as having a frame for a natural competition middleweight. He isn’t even the biggest guy at 170 pounds. Additionally, training partner Umar Nurmagomedov said in a recent interview that the former champ could always come down to lightweight for what was his. In any way, a long-awaited title fight could just be possible.

Islam Makhachev warned by Team JDM about Dana White’s liking

Soon after the TKO powered boxing league, Dana White and his team have tried further expansions into other combat sports. The recent investment of the MMA leader into submission grappling via UFC BJJ has resulted in a rivalry between the promotion and Craig Jones’ CJI.

Dana White poised not to like 'wrestle-heavy' grunts like Islam Makhachev
Dana White poised not to like ‘wrestle-heavy’ grunts like Islam Makhachev (Source: X)

Jones, who is known for being candid, is not hesitant to discuss the tension with Dana White. The Australian grappler recently even jibed the UFC for copying his CJI model and turned down the Mikey Musumeci and Rerisson Gabriel starring BJJ show.

Despite the snub, Craig Jones is confident that it will not affect his coaching abilities. The Aussie grappler coached JDM at the UFC 315 PPV in Montreal vs. Belal Muhammad. Having helped the Aussie man snag the welterweight gold, he spoke highly of his grapples and knack to improve.

Prior to this, he also helped two-time Islam Makhachev rival, Alexander Volkanovski. While he and UFC side of things might not see eye-to-eye, Jones thinks he is a needed evil, helping get rid of the promotion’s ground-game focused top crops:

UFC hates me, …but they also hate Dagestani wrestlers and Jack Della is fighting Islam Makhachev. So – they’re in a catch-22. They’re like, ‘We hate this guy but we hate these wrestlers as well.’ So, I think they want me… I helped them get rid of Belal. Hold on a bit longer guys, …we’ll get rid of Islam Makhachev [as well] for you.

Craig Jones on “The Ariel Helwani Show” for ‘Uncrowned’ Combat

With 5 title fight wins logged at lightweight and a 15-fight winning streak, Islam Makhachev isn’t a noob to the fight game. The promotion’s former #1 pound-for-pound, a spot Ilia Topuria now holds, he has maintained his domination for a reason. From submissions to outboxing, to chaining off singles to double-leg jointed throws/trips/takedowns, the sambo fighter is a reckoning.

However much the Dagestani star can outbox, though, there is a certain preset angst against wrestling, no matter how much intelligent. Jones has touted he can work out that Makhachev equation and get rid of it that easy. If so, the ground-game world will take a certain hit for sure.

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