Islam Makhachev Reveals Surprising Truth about Hyped Ilia Topuria Face-Off

Islam Makhachev has amped up the GOAT debate in the UFC. Currently, former heavyweight champion Jon Jones is widely regarded as the UFC GOAT. However, following Islam Makhachev’s win at UFC 330, the Dagestani has emerged as a serious contender. 

Interestingly, while the 34-year-old has fought some incredible bouts, there has been one fight that was heavily hyped. With speculations about a fight against Ilia Topuria, the idea never materialized. Reflecting on the topic, Makhachev recently revealed something interesting. 

Islam Makhachev was Ready to Fight Ilia Topuria

In the recent past, Ilia Topuria had emerged as one of the lethal UFC strikers. Finishing off the likes of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and others, fans wanted him to fight Makhachev. The idea further gained traction when the Spaniard made a transition to the lightweight division. Sadly, despite all the hype, the UFC fans missed out on witnessing the epic faceoff. 

Providing some details on the matter, the UFC welterweight champion revealed that he was ready for a fight. Makhachev said, “I wanted to fight in June at the White House. They called me, offered me Ilia Topuria, they offered me good money, and I said yes."

The Dagestani further added that while he was happy with the money, team Topuria was not okay with the offer, and thus, they called off the deal. 

Can Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev Fight Still Happen?

Technically, yes. With both fighters still very much active in the UFC, there is a possibility. However, the reality is pretty contrasting. Facing off against Justin Gaethje, ‘El Matador’ has just lost his lightweight gold. But that is the least of his worries. In the bout, Topuria suffered some serious injuries that forced the referee to put a stop to the fight prematurely. 

Currently, as the Spanish star en route to his recovery, there is no set timeline on when he will return. On the contrary, Makhachev just won his title fight against Ian Garry. Confirming his return before Ramadan, the Dagestani fighter will probably go up against Carlos Prates. Thus, currently, Topuria vs. Makhachev face-off seems unlikely, but there’s no telling when the tides turn in the future.