Former UFC bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili wants to help his close friend, reigning UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, prepare for his next fight.
By law, Topuria is going to face current and two-time interim 155-pound champion Justin Gaethje next, and rumors suggest that their title unification bout will happen on June 14 at the White House.
Dvalishvili, on the other hand, has been promised an immediate title rematch by the UFC and is expected to meet current and two-time bantamweight champion Petr Yan this summer.
During a recent sit-down, “The Machine” told Nina-Marie Daniele that once the UFC announces Ilia Topuria’s next fight, he will go to Spain to train with the Georgian-Spaniard and help him prepare for Gaethje.
However, “The Machine” thinks “El Matador” might actually come to Georgia to train with him this time. He said:
Once Ilia announces his fight in Spain, I will go to Spain to help him. But Ilia might actually go to Georgia for his training camp.”
Check out Merab Dvalishvili’s comments by clicking on this link.
Ilia Topuria has ended his legal battle with his ex-wife and has returned to train at his Madrid mansion, which has a $2 million gym.
Islam Makhachev won’t fight Ilia Topuria on June 14
In a recent interview with Ushatayka, Islam Makhachev revealed that the UFC isn’t interested in him locking horns with Ilia Topuria next. However, both UFC champions had recently shown interest in fighting each other at the White House. The pound-for-pound king said:
Yes, I think it [Me vs. Ilia] definitely won’t happen at the White House, because he already has an opponent, and the UFC is not interested in this.”
Hence, Makhachev is gearing up for the first defense of his welterweight title, which is expected to happen post-Ramadan. Rumors suggest that he will be taking on Ian Machado Garry next. In the same interview, he added:
We’re still discussing an approximate date for my fight. Even it’s not at the White House, it’ll be around that time. I’m not ruling out the White House option either. As of today, that’s the most likely scenario.”
Fans could expect a potential showdown between Topuria and Makhachev either later this year or sometime next year, provided both fighters still share the same intent to face each other.
