Ilia Topuria’s bold claim about Team Khabib’s camp sets fire in MMA community: “Dagestan era is over”
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria doubts Team Khabib's dominance and points out their weakness during fights.
Follow Us
Ilia Topuria believes Team Khabib doesn't deserve the hype (via Imago/Instagram)
Ilia Topuria has always been vocal about his criticism of Team Khabib and their achievements. The UFC featherweight champion refuses to buy into the invincibility aura created around Khabib Nurmagomedov and his teammates. Recently, the Georgian-Spanish fighter once again made some comments that attracted various attention from the MMA community.
Ilia Topuria’s countrymen, Merab Dvalishvili, recently beat Team Khabib’s Umar Nurmagomedov in a title fight. Going into the fight, the Georgian was the underdog, but dominated the Dagestani, especially in the later rounds. Topuria talked about this in a latest podcast appearance, and shared his theory about Dagestani fighters.
They try to beat you in the earlier rounds to feel that they can dominate you… but when they realize that it’s not like that, most of the time they lose…All the competitive fights, they lose.
Ilia Topuria via FULL SEND PODCAST
According to Topuria, the narrative around Dagestani fighters having unlimited cardio or incredible strength is a hoax. Topuria himself is eyeing for a title shot against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the future. The Georgian-Spanish star is confident about his chances to beat the pound-for-pound king and become a double champion.
Ilia Topuria on Dagestani fighters:
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 13, 2025
“They try to beat you in the earlier rounds to feel that they can dominate you… but when they realize that it’s not like that, most of the time they lose…
All the competitive fights, they lose.”
🎥 @fullsendpodcastpic.twitter.com/f4T48vIp7V
This isn’t the first time Ilia Topuria has attacked Team Khabib. In the past, he’s had online disputes with Usman Nurmagomedov and other fighters from Khabib’s team. Given the history and current form of both Topuria and Makhachev, many fans are hyped about this dream matchup.
Fight fans react to Ilia Topuria’s latest diss on Team Khabib
Islam Makhachev has successfully established himself as the best fighter in the current UFC roster with the maximum following. After defending his title four times, the Dagestani fighter is ready to move up. He hasn’t completely shut down the idea of fighting Ilia Topuria. However, the lightweight champion wants the featherweight champion to earn the title shot.
Like Makhachev, Topuria is one of the most complete fighters in UFC and can knock out anybody in the lightweight division. Many believe that he is the only one having the skillset to beat Makhachev. Here are some reactions from fans after Topuria’s comments.
The Dagestani era is over https://t.co/FZE9TVjyDF
— Casual MMA (@CasualMMAinc) February 13, 2025
Is Georgia vs Dagestan in wrestling like Mexico vs Puerto Rico in boxing?
— Pedro (@uapdog) February 13, 2025
its why daggy fighters always want every advantage going into the fight
— MAGA MMA (@BeastyCopt) February 13, 2025
youll never see a coward like @MAKHACHEVMMA going into brazil to fight someone like charles on a short turnaround
He actually kinda cooked. When a dagi is met with adversity in a competitive fight you can almost see in their face how shocked they are at times
— SickydoesMMA (@SICKYDOESMMA) February 13, 2025
Bro umar lost one fight oh my goodness.
— Abubakr Farghaly (@moneymanbubba) February 13, 2025
This is way too broad of a statement lol I can count on one hand how many times this has happened…
— groypenheimer (@kingbake223) February 13, 2025
Little Topuria talks big but has little to show on his resume compared to the lightweight champion and the pound-for-pound #1 fighter, Islam Makhachev. He's banking on a lucky punch.That's a lot of talk for a small guy with a horse face."
— Impetus (@Raisal_Saien) February 14, 2025
Islam literally dogged out with Dustin and Volk.
— Jennan Bronson (@whiskyalphazulu) February 13, 2025
Khabib had not one dog fight cos he was the dog every single time.
Why do Dudes think every dagastani is one entity and one loss equals they found a chink in the armour like they part of megazord looooooool
Islam won a close fight vs Dustin. However, the broader picture is that these guys are not in a lot of competitive fights. They dominate mostly everyone.
— Michael Krasic (@KrasicoGlobal) February 13, 2025
Khabib didn’t give a fuck. He’d go all 5 rounds if it came to it. That being said, there is a lot of unnecessary hype around Dagestani fighters
— John Doe (@doewantstruth) February 13, 2025
As expected Topuria’s comments received a mixed reaction from fight fans. Many agreed with the fighter for commenting on the hype that Team Khabib gets in the MMA community. Others made fun of the champion and tried to negate his comments with various examples.
Related: Ilia Topuria Net Worth, UFC Contract, Endorsements, and House
Stay Updated!
Ameetosh Dash
(1029 Articles Published)