Ilia Topuria talks Islam Makhachev allegedly ducking him, UFC's apparent stance on their superfight
Ilia Topuria now seems to believe that Islam Makhachev isn't evading a clash against him. "El Matador" feels it's the UFC that doesn't want to book their fight.
The grudge match between UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev seems unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Topuria, who's an ex-UFC featherweight champion, is currently booked to defend his lightweight belt against interim UFC lightweight champ Justin Gaethje. Their title unifier headlines UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., on June 14, 2026.
Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev, who's an ex-UFC lightweight champ, is rumored to be defending his welterweight belt against Ian Machado Garry next.
Ilia Topuria is open to Islam Makhachev fight, but doesn't need it to validate his legacy
In a recent appearance on DeepCut with Vic Blends, Ilia Topuria addressed various topics, including his oft-discussed possible superfight against Islam Makhachev.
Blends alluded to the past speculation in the MMA community, wherein many felt that Topuria would face UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev next. However, he ended up being booked to face Justin Gaethje instead of Makhachev.
The UFC star asked how he'd feel if his long-awaited clash against Makhachev doesn't materialize and whether it's essential for his legacy. Topuria replied by explaining that he has nothing personal against Makhachev and is simply interested in the fight because they're both UFC double champions respectively.
The KO artist implied that he doesn't need that fight, as his legacy is independent of Makhachev. He said, "I don't need Islam to feel realized, or to feel happy, or to feel proud about myself."
Ilia Topuria feels Islam Makhachev isn't ducking him; UFC doesn't want to book their fight
Over the years, both Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have traded barbs and accused one another of ducking their superfight. Nevertheless, speaking to Vic Blends, Topuria has now asserted that he feels Makhachev isn't evading their showdown.
Opining that it's the UFC that isn't interested in booking their superfight, Topuria stated, "I don't think that it's because of him that the fight is not happening. I truly believe that is -- is that the UFC doesn't wanna make it happen."
That said, the Georgian-Spaniard fighter indicated that the UFC is well within its rights to make its own decisions in regard to matchmaking, as the successful organization that they've built stands as testament to the fact that their matchmaking-related and other decisions are good for business.
On that note, the 29-year-old highlighted that he and other UFC athletes aren't in a position to dictate matchmaking to the UFC. He added that there are other interesting fights for him in the organization -- alluding to his upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje and also naming Arman Tsarukyan as a potential future opponent.
Watch Ilia Topuria discuss the topic below (*comments at the 57:30-minute mark):
