Ilia Topuria gets Dustin Poirier co-sign for dream fight despite Islam Makhachev rejection

Dustin Poirier wants to see Ilia Topuria fight Islam Makhachev due to the UFC featherweight champion's recent performances.

Ilia Topuria gets Dustin Poirier co-sign for dream fight despite Islam Makhachev rejection

Dustin Poirier wants Ilia Topuria to move up and challenge Islam Makhachev (Image via MMA Fighting/Imago/X)

Challenging a champion in a higher-weight division is not a new occurrence in the UFC. Over the years, notable fighters like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, and Daniel Cormier have successfully made this move. Currently, UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria is seeking a similar fight against UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev.

‘El Matador’ once regarded McGregor as his idol, inspiring him to work diligently to become a prominent MMA fighter. Topuria has frequently expressed his ambition to become a double champion within the UFC. Recently, UFC lightweight veteran Dustin Poirier shared his perspective on Topuria’s aspirations, offering his support for the Spaniard’s goals.

With a guy like him (Ilia Topuria), vacating the belt and moving up, finishing Max Holloway the way that he did, I would give him a crack at the lightweight title right off the bat.

Dustin Poirier via MMA Fighting
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Since his UFC debut, Topuria has been a dominating force in the promotion. In his undefeated run, the Spaniard has defeated notable featherweight fighters such as Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, establishing himself as a top contender in the division. Given this record, the UFC featherweight champion, Dustin Poirier, was not hesitant to endorse Topuria’s move to fight Islam Makhachev.

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The UFC lightweight champion is not very eager to face Topuria and has explained his reasons for this on several occasions. Like the Spaniard, Makhachev is also looking to enhance his status in the promotion. Since the Dagestani fighter has already defended his title twice against featherweight champions, he is unwilling to fight Topuria. That being said, now it raises a question about the next potential opponent of the Spaniard.

Daniel Cormier believes Ilia Topuria is fighting former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira next

The UFC lightweight division is home to many exceptional MMA fighters, making it one of the most competitive divisions in the sport. In this environment, Islam Makhachev has demonstrated his skills and established himself as the champion of the 155-pound division. Currently, Charles Oliveira is arguably one of the top contenders vying for another shot at the title.

Daniel Cormier is confident about Ilia Topuria fighting Charles Oliveira next
Daniel Cormier is confident about Ilia Topuria fighting Charles Oliveira next (Image via Imago)

Since Oliveira’s loss against Makhachev, the Brazilian fighter has not had a rematch clash for the 155 lbs title. Now, as Topuria aims to join the lightweight title fight picture, UFC legend Daniel Cormier has shared some insightful thoughts on the situation. Cormier suggested that a matchup between Oliveira and Topuria could serve as an excellent title eliminator.

I believe it’s Charles Oliveira and let me tell you why. You match up Topuria and Oliveira, and they fight relatively soon. Islam is in Ramadan, and they don’t want to fight in Ramadan… That pushes Makhachev back to the end of Ramadan, right? It would seem as though Makhachev will be ready to fight by October in Abu Dhabi and if he is, you match Ilia versus Oliveira, early, sometime in the spring. You make them fight with the guarantee that one of these guys gets a title fight.

Daniel Cormier via YouTube (Check from 5:30)
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According to Daniel Cormier, the upcoming month of Ramadan could significantly delay Topuria’s championship fight against Makhachev. As a result, the UFC legend seems more optimistic about a potential matchup between the Spaniard and Oliveira around May 2025. However, as of now, the UFC executives have not made any announcements regarding this situation.