Team Islam Makhachev Set Record Straight Over White House Ilia Topuria Fight

Islam Makhachev's manager diminishes reignited talk of Ilia Topuria superfight by laying out welterweight ambitions for the Dagestani champion.

Team Islam Makhachev Set Record Straight Over White House Ilia Topuria Fight

Islam Makhachev's team provides Ilia Topuria update (via Instagram, MMA Fighting)

In Short
  • The anticipated fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria is unlikely to happen soon due to ongoing divisional commitments.
  • Topuria recently claimed the vacant lightweight title, while Makhachev is focused on defending his welterweight championship.
  • Makhachev's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has been promoting a potential fight with Kamaru Usman instead of prioritizing the superfight with Topuria.

The fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria is highly anticipated in the UFC. Both fighters have shown unmatched dominance in their rise to two-divisional championship status. Their contrasting styles make the matchup a true chess match inside the octagon. However, recent comments from Makhachev’s controversial manager, Ali Abdelaziz, suggest the superfight is unlikely to happen soon.

Topuria moved up from the featherweight division to challenge Makhachev when he held the lightweight title. By that time, Makhachev had already moved up to welterweight, leaving the belt vacant. Topuria claimed the vacant lightweight belt at UFC 317 with a knockout over Charles Oliveira. Since then, both Topuria and Makhachev have been going back and forth on social media, taking shots at each other.

The hype around a fight between Makhachev and Topuria had faded in recent months. Makhachev recently reignited plans for a superfight by agreeing to face the Georgian-Spanish champion whenever the UFC schedules it. However, both fighters have ongoing divisional obligations that must be fulfilled first. Abdelaziz confirmed these commitments will take priority before any superfight can be planned.

Just to be clear @Justin_Gaethje is fighting next for the undisputed Lightweight title and if Topuria doesn’t want then Justin will fight for the undisputed title against whoever is next, and if Islam wants to give Topuria this a*s whooping then he will be the one who will choose where and when, but Islam’s next fight will definitely be against a real Welterweight.

Ali Abdelaziz via X

Abdelaziz has been pushing for a fight between Makhachev and Kamaru Usman since the Dagestani star won the welterweight belt. Interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is also under contract with Abdelaziz’s Dominance MMA, giving him interest in top matchups. This explains the focus on a unification bout with Topuria rather than a superfight against Makhachev in the near future.

Abdelaziz has always been under intense scrutiny from the MMA community, with many speculating that he manages his fighters’ social media accounts to stir unnecessary conflicts and influence public opinion. He has also previously called out potential opponents for Makhachev, often strategically positioning them for a future fight with the Dagestani champion and shaping matchups across divisions along the way.

Ilia Topuria has confirmed he will face interim champion Justin Gaethje next, with the UFC White House event suggested as a potential location for the unification bout. Islam Makhachev remains atop a stacked 170-pound division, ready to defend or challenge whenever necessary. In that context, Ali Abdelaziz emphasized that divisional obligations take priority over any superfight.

Former rival terms Islam Makhachev as the toughest wrestler

Islam Makhachev’s wrestling and grappling dominance has steadily improved since his early UFC years. One of the first fighters to experience this was Arman Tsarukyan, who lost to Makhachev in his UFC debut. Despite the loss, Tsarukyan has consistently recognized Makhachev’s skills and growth in the octagon. He has remained appreciative of the Dagestani star and his grappling prowess ever since.

Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev
Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev (via Bloody Elbow)

Tsarukyan is undoubtedly one of the strongest wrestlers on the current UFC roster. While he has been inactive in recent months, he has remained active with RAF Wrestling, putting on dominant performances under the banner. His consistent skill development has kept him sharp despite the layoff. When recently asked who the most dominant lightweight wrestler is, the Armenian gave props to his former rival.

Right now at 155? Nobody, I shouldn’t worry. It was Islam, but he went up. He doesn’t waste energy. He’s so calm, too.

Arman Tsarukyan via YouTube

Arman Tsarukyan has shown significant improvement since his first meeting with Islam Makhachev. The two were originally slated to fight at UFC 311, but the bout was cancelled due to Tsarukyan’s injury. Since then, both fighters have continued developing their skills in the octagon. Now that Islam Makhachev has moved to the welterweight division, a matchup against the Armenian phenom seems unlikely.

Also Read: