Ilia Topuria takes aim at Islam Makhachev, brushing off his threat: "I'll have to pay for his medical bills"
Ilia Topuria is not ruling out a move up to lightweight and a potential fight against champion Islam Makhachev. Topuria has been inclined towards getting high-profile fights against notable opponents irrespective of weight class, especially since capturing the featherweight strap at UFC 298.
The Spaniard previously fought at lightweight in March 2022 when he defeated Jai Herbert by a second-round KO after surviving an early scare. During a recent online Q&A, Topuria was asked if he would compete at 155 pounds again. He said:
"Why not? I have done it once, I could do it again."
When asked if he thinks he will fight Makhachev in the lightweight division at some point, Topuria said:
"The truth is that of course I [see myself fighting Islam Makhachev in the lightweight division]. He's a great fighter. Sometimes he talks too much, sometimes not. But we can always resolve it in the octagon. Not in the streets, because then I will have to pay for his medical bills."
Check out Ilia Topuria's comments below:
Islam Makhachev has already laid out conditions for Ilia Topuria to get a crack at him
Islam Makhachev's first two lightweight title defenses came against Ilia Topuria's predecessor Alexander Volkanovski. He was also briefly linked for a fight against Max Holloway after the Hawaiian's historic KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
While speaking to Marca heading into his UFC 302 clash against Dustin Poirier, Makhachev joked about "little guys" at featherweight willing to compete against him when murmurs of a potential super-fight against Topuria were heard.
Makhachev then implied that he would give Topuria the opportunity if he dominated the division before moving up a weight class:
"Ilia is good, yes. I think in my opinion he has good wrestling skills, but he always uses his boxing. And when you have good boxing, your opponent has good boxing, it's a little bit dangerous. He is good but his next opponent is Max Holloway. If he beats Max, if he beats Movaar Evloev... He has a big job in his division. Man, I don't know why the little guys want to fight me. I would give him the chance." [H/T Marca]
Before serious talks of a super-fight, Makhachev and Topuria have a business to handle in their respective weight classes. Topuria will attempt his first featherweight title defense against Holloway at UFC 308 on Oct. 25.
Meanwhile, Makhachev will most likely rematch Arman Tsarukyan in early 2025. If he wins, Makhachev will become the only champion in UFC lightweight history to secure four consecutive title defenses.