“Islam Makhachev is afraid” – Ilia Topuria blames Dagestani champion for ruining training camp

Before his anticipated 155-pound move, Ilia Topuria makes a bold claim about divisional top dogs Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira.

“Islam Makhachev is afraid” – Ilia Topuria blames Dagestani champion for ruining training camp

Ilia Topuria is preparing for either Islam Makahachev or Charles Oliveira next (Source: IMAGO/X)

It has been a while since Ilia Topuria shocked the world with news of vacating his 145-pound title strap. Post-UFC 314 PPV card, he’d be in lightweight competition, yet again. Now, it’s just a waiting game for Topuria, who’s shooting straight for the belt. To that end, the Georgian-Spanish fighter claimed Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira were afraid of his oncoming.

Ilia Topuria doused similar challenges to Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in back-to-back fights and delivered. Despite longtime 155-pound king Islam Makhachev’s reluctance, many think Topuria is doing it all right to goad out a matchup. The 28-year-old implored that such big names were the matches to make for it. Now, to see to that, he went one step more and made a bold remark.

I am preparing for Makhachev fight but he is afraid, …The options are Islam or Charles — All my training is focused on Islam or Charles because I don’t see any other opponents, …Neither of them seems to dare…These are the symptoms of fear, we all know that, but it’s normal, I’d be scared, too.

Ilia Topuria in a press conference in Spain, Thursday (H/T: ABC MMA & @KOlmeneroMMA)
YouTube video

Topuria also aimed for a 155-pound top contender matchup vs. Charles Oliveira, but ‘Do Bronx’ refused. Despite initially welcoming him, Oliveira rather wants to cash in his chance to shoot for gold himself. Charles Oliveira lost to #1 lightweight in the UFC athlete listings, Arman Tsarukyan, for the top contender honors. However, he then defeated Michael Chandler last November and got his promise of a title crack.

Topuria’s arrival in the lightweight class has driven up much anticipation in the last few weeks. Some think he has the power and skill ceiling to challenge Oliveira or Islam Makhachev just the same. Others have billed that him ballooning to the 190-pound mark and above is just a little bit exaggerated. Meanwhile, on the bench, Topuria hurled accusations that top fighters were riled up about his arrival and ducking him.

Ilia Topuria moving on from UFC event in Spain

When Ilia Topuria punctuated one of the biggest knockouts at UFC 298, he was on instant tab for a UFC Spain event. Talks of it again bolstered further when the Alicante-Georgian made a maiden defense at the UFC 308 PPV main event.

Ilia Topuria as UFC Spain event headliner is uncertain
Ilia Topuria as UFC Spain event headliner is uncertain (Source: X)

As a matter of fact, Topuria even tried to drive up the bargain by saying his title fight against Holloway was shaping up behind the scenes for a UFC Spain event. This past weekend, the promotion returned to London for the sixth time since 2020. During the UFC London post-fight event conference, UFC Executive Dave Shaw said they’re working out things.

For one, football is a niche product out of Spain, more so than UFC/MMA. Hence, the grind follows up on open-roof arenas, calling for more security and athlete protection. Camp Club Climent manager Lukasz Orzel also told Kanał Sportowy (@Kanal_Sportowy) that Barcelona FC wrote letters against such arrangements as it would block out major venues.

However, Shaw provided that the UFC brass are working through it. Topuria, though, is shy of any interest at the moment:

It’s because of the agreement the UFC has with ESPN — the scheduling issue, because if they bring a numbered event to Spain, it would have to be at 4AM or 5AM to be prime time on US television, so I don’t see it as very feasible to have everyone on their feet at 4AM or 5AM, …Even as an athlete, I don’t see myself competing at that time. I already did it once in Abu Dhabi where we had to fight at such a crazy time.

Ilia Topuria further said

When the promotion returned for a Manchester PPV card last summer, one of the biggest binding issues against it was the time. The 4 AM slot to fit in US pay-per-view schedules drained the athletes and the fans. In a similar vein of thought, Topuria does not want the same for himself.

Related: Spain to South Africa: How Dana White’s 2025 dreams could see UFC traveling to never-before venues