Islam Makhachev is finally ready to grant MMA fans what they have been longing for more than a year. The Russian fighter says he is “ready” for a potential superfight with Ilia Topuria at the White House on June 14.
Makhachev vacated his 155-pound championship last year in pursuit of two-division glory and managed to dethrone Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to capture the welterweight throne. He is expected to make the first defense of his 170-pound championship post Ramadan.
However, in a recent interview, Islam Makhachev opined that he’s ready to give fans what they want, if the promotion seconds it: Him vs. Ilia Topuria. The 34-year-old told Telegraf:
I like this idea [me vs. Ilia Topuria] if the UFC wants… I know a lot of MMA fans want this fight, and I’m ready. [The White House] is one of the arenas where maybe I’m gonna fight next. After Ramadan, I will slowly begin my training camp, and I will be ready for White House or any other dates. I will be ready.”
Check out Islam Makhachev’s comments below:
Makhachev vs. Topuria was previously a done deal if Belal Muhammad had successfully defended his welterweight championship against ‘JDM’ at UFC 315. However, ‘Remember the Name’ was dethroned, prompting his friend and training partner Makhachev to move up to chase a second title.
‘El Matador’ has been calling out the Dagestani wrestling maestro ever since the former vacated his 145-pound throne and moved up to lightweight.
Islam Makahchev, however, has stated that now, he has no intention of coming down to 155-pounds. Therefore, if Topuria wants to lock horns with him, he should move up.
‘El Matador’ has even agreed to that and has previously stated that he is open to fighting Makhachev at 170-pounds or even at catchweight for the pound-for-pound throne.
Ilia Topuria Sends Warning to Islam Makhachev Ahead of Potential Superfight
Perhaps something big is cooking behind the scenes, as earlier today, before Islam Makahchev reaffirmed his desire to face Ilia Topuria, the latter also warned the P4P king once again.
Topuria is confident he’s better than Makhachev in striking, grappling, and wrestling, and earlier today, the Georgian-Spaniard sent a chilling warning to Makhachev. He told El_doberdan:
Everyone knows it’s [Islam vs. Ilia] is a fight everyone wants to see, and for some reason, he hasn’t accepted it, and then he talks too much. It’s very easy to talk from thousands of kilometers away and criticize me, but then when you have me in that octagon, you start to realize that I’m not Jack Della Maddalena, that I’m not Dan Hooker, that I’m not all those guys that you have faced. I’m something very different, and when I put my right hand on you, you’ll see that you’re going to have a very, very long sleep.”
Check out Ilia Topuria’s comments below:
According to Merab Dvalishvili, there will be no Russian fighters on the UFC White House card.
However, if that rumor turns out to be false and the promotion locks in Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev, it will have a BIG impact on the 155 and 170-pound divisions.
If Topuria decides to fight Makhachev and vacates his lightweight belt, Justin Gaethje could become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion and then defend the title against Arman Tsarukyan, who wants a title shot at any cost and also deserves one.
Meanwhile, Ian Machado Garry, Michael Morales, and Kamaru Usman, among others, have to wait.
That being said, it’s a win- win for Topuria as he will likely have the biggest payday of his life against Islam Makhachev. Apart from a fat check, ‘El Matador’ will also have the opportunity to become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion if he dethrones the Russian, grabs the welterweight championship, and also recaptures the P4P throne.
The June 14 event lineup is still being finalized, and now the recent comments from both Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria suggest something big could be on the horizon.
