Michael Bisping on how Ilia Topuria could be catalyst for an Islam Makhachev super-fight: “Antagonization I love”
Michael Bisping believes Ilia Topuria finally gets dream super fight with UFC 155-pound champ Islam Makhachev based on crass banter.
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Michael Bisping has faith Ilia Topuria will finally get dream super-fight vs. Islam Makhachev (Source: X/IMAGO)
With the amount of highlight performances and utter domination 2024 had, Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev has become an endgame. Topuria wants to go up a division in 2025, and has vacated his title, as per UFC CEO Dana White. It pits him against the dominant Dagestani who’s not keen on the matchup. UFC legend Michael Bisping believes Ilia Topuria will finally get the super fight against Islam Makhachev.
With his clinical mayhem over top names, Ilia Topuria recently took a jab at Dagestani MMA. The Spaniard believes Dagestani fighters need to dominate the early frame of the matchup to win, but tire out later. Islam Makhachev already has a long line of blemishes facing 145lbers. Nevertheless, Michael Bisping thinks a diss on his nation could actually reel in Makhachev into facing him.
The reality is, Islam’s not scared of anybody, …Of course he’s not…Not just him, he’s talking about Dagestani fighters in general, and if there’s one thing that you know about fighters from Dagestan, they are proud, they are patriotic, and they take this sh*t seriously. If Ilia carries on down this line, down this path, down this antagonization route, which I love by the way, then I think we’re going to see this matchup.
Michael Bisping via his official podcast
Nobody, absolutely nobody, lets go of national connotations that easy. Additionally, “El Matador” knocked out featherweight GOAT contenders Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in the same year. Topuria is the ‘it’ man of crisp striking after the UFC 308 PPV. However, Climent Club MMA has touted it’s not even his best skill as he is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
Michael Bisping himself has been a big proponent of the transitional grappling vs. Makhachev’s Sambo challenge. Alongside, Islam Makhachev proved last June that he can even outbox and is rightfully the promotion’s No. 1 pound-for-pound. Hence, it’s become a skills test challenge everyone wants to see. However, not everyone wants the superfight to happen.
UFC legend blasts UFC featherweight Ilia Topuria for chasing super fight against Islam Makhachev
Since knocking out Max Holloway, the Spanish-Georgian has been desperate to coax the Dagestani star into a fight. Ilia Topuria and his team cited health issues in wanting to hydrate one level up at 155. Topuria’s crisp domination of Holloway was also a testament to that as “Blessed” finally had a very wholesome 155-145 hydration switch and was at his best.
However, one MMA notable doesn’t see it the way fans or Bisping sees it. Chael Sonnen is getting a little tired of Topuria calling out the lightweight champion. In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the ‘Bad Guy’ weighed in on it:
Why is Ilia Topuria calling out Islam Makhachev for the eighth time in nine days? There is something highly unusual about Ilia Topuria using these opportunities to stay on Islam…I cannot begin to believe that something really special for Islam’s fight is that he’s got to fight a 145-pounder. That would be a super fight, [but] it wouldn’t be special for Islam…He’s already fought a 145-pounder as a world champion, who was the reigning number one pound-for-pound.
Chael Sonnen said
Two of Islam Makhachev’s four UFC lightweight title defenses were vs. former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Plus, the champion from Dagestan has aspirations to move on a be a double-division champ. Hence, he has been very dismissive of giving Topuria a shot.
Related: Ilia Topuria offered two lightweight stars after Islam Makhachev’s condition for title fight
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