"Keep your lies to yourself" - Fans cast doubt on Team Ilia Topuria's bold comparison with Islam Makhachev

Ilia Topuria’s manager recently stirred controversy by claiming that the featherweight champion could submit lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and that his training environment rivals Makhachev’s rigorous sessions in Dagestan. The statement follows Topuria’s bold assertion that he could be the first to submit Makhachev.

Topuria’s manager, Lukasz Orzel, further claimed that in the last two years, Topuria hasn’t had a single point scored against him in training at Spain’s Climent Club gym. Javier Mendez, Makhachev’s coach, quickly challenged Topuria to train in Dagestan to face high-caliber grapplers and suggested that Topuria’s current environment lacks top-tier talent.

In response, Orzel insisted:

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“Talking about Ilia’s grappling partners, our gym is as packed with beasts as Islam’s gym in Dagestan, if not more.”

Fans on social media were quick to criticize Orzel’s comments.

One fan commented:

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“Ilia was getting pieced up by a nobody from Dagestan… keep your lies to yourself.”

Another mocked:

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“Bro, your gym has nobodies”

Check out some of the fan reactions below:

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Fans react to Ilia Topuria's recent statement [Screenshot courtesy: @redcorner.mma]

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Ilia Topuria’s coach believes Paddy Pimblett has yet to earn a fight against his pupil

Ilia Topuria's coach, Jorge Climent, recently shared his thoughts on a potential matchup between Topuria and England's Paddy Pimblett. Climent questioned whether Pimblett has earned the opportunity to fight Topuria, describing it as a mismatch due to Pimblett's limited experience against top-tier fighters.

The tension between them began in 2022 when Pimblett faced backlash for making inflammatory remarks about Georgians, including Topuria, by referring to the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia. Although Pimblett later apologized, Topuria and his camp felt that the comments demonstrated intentional disrespect.

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Since then, the rivalry has simmered and reignited after Topuria's recent knockout win over Max Holloway. While Pimblett congratulated Topuria, he confidently claimed that he would defeat the featherweight champion in a potential fight.

In an interview with Hablemos MMA, Climent stated that Pimblett lacks the necessary skills to compete with someone of Topuria's caliber:

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"Who has he beat? All his fights, they put someone alright in front of him, just so he can exist and stay relevant. He's very media because of how he talks and all that, but I don't see him having the quality to fight Ilia, and I don't think he deserves it."

Check out the coach's comment below:

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