Ilia Topuria Calls Out Islam Makhachev: “He’s the Biggest Hypocrite I’ve Ever Seen”
Drama in the UFC lightweight division? Oh, you bet.
Ilia Topuria isn’t holding back anymore—and when he speaks, the MMA world listens. The undefeated Spanish-Georgian phenom (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) went all in on Islam Makhachev after the former lightweight champ made a big move—ditching the 155-pound belt to chase a title in the welterweight division.
Why's that got Topuria fired up?
Because not too long ago, Makhachev dismissed him as a challenger—literally brushed him off like lint on a suit. Now, here comes the twist: the same guy who once criticized Topuria for being a “little guy” moving up in weight is now doing the exact same thing. Ouch.
“He’s the biggest hypocrite I’ve ever seen,” Topuria said during a recent press conference, with his comments translated and shared via Marca and Championship Rounds. “He said he wouldn’t fight me because I was coming up a weight class. And now he’s chasing the same opportunity. That’s wild to me.”
Let’s break it down.
Makhachev’s Championship Shuffle: The Timeline
Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), long viewed as one of the pound-for-pound best in the game, defended his lightweight title four times—two of those coming against then-featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski. Critics said Makhachev was cherry-picking smaller opponents, but hey, the guy kept winning.
But instead of facing Topuria next—a fellow 145-er who had bulldozed his way into the lightweight spotlight—Makhachev chose a different route: up.
The Dagestani fighter vacated his lightweight belt and decided to move to 170 pounds. Why? Because the welterweight title was now up for grabs.
You see, Makhachev had always wanted to be a two-division champ. It was no secret. But his close friend and teammate Belal Muhammad was the reigning welterweight king—so he waited. Things changed fast after Jack Della Maddalena snatched the belt from Muhammad at UFC 315. And just like that, Makhachev made his move.
“The Fight Everyone Wanted to See” – Topuria Speaks Out
That’s when things got personal.
Ilia Topuria had positioned himself as the next big thing. Undefeated. Dominant. And ready to scrap for that lightweight strap. Fans were buzzing about a potential matchup with Makhachev—it felt inevitable.
“I put everything on the table for that fight,” Topuria said. “That’s the fight everyone wanted. But they ran. They never really accepted it from the start.”
He didn’t stop there. Topuria even took aim at Makhachev’s longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz, saying he should be grateful that the fight never happened.
“Ali should thank me for not beating his star,” Topuria said. “The only reason Makhachev still has value, some credibility, is because that fight never happened. If it did? Things would be different right now.”
Abdelaziz Fires Back… But Topuria’s Not Buying It
Abdelaziz, never one to stay quiet, responded publicly. He told MMA Junkie that had Belal Muhammad retained his welterweight title at UFC 315, the next fight would’ve been Makhachev vs. Topuria. Seems convenient, right?
Topuria wasn’t impressed.
“They’re lying. That’s not true,” he said bluntly. “He’s just trying to clean up the mess his clients leave behind. That’s his job, I get it. But let’s not act like this fight was ever going to happen. They didn’t want it.”
The Irony Is Real
Topuria finds it hilarious that Makhachev once downplayed him for moving up in weight… only to now be doing the same thing himself.
“How can you criticize me for chasing a challenge in a higher weight class, and then go and do that exact thing? That’s hypocrisy on another level,” Topuria said.
It’s a sharp observation—and it highlights the politics of UFC matchmaking. Fighters often criticize others for moves they eventually make themselves. But when you're undefeated and knocking on the door of a title shot, the double standards sting a bit more.
“I Don’t Chase People Who Run”
So what now? With Makhachev headed to 170 and the lightweight belt now officially up for grabs, Topuria is stepping into the spotlight once again—this time, against a UFC legend.
He’s set to headline UFC 317 on June 28, facing none other than Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title. And let’s be real: that’s a banger of a matchup.
When asked if he’d consider going up to welterweight himself to chase down Makhachev, Topuria didn’t hesitate:
“But why chase him?” he shrugged. “If someone runs away, you don’t have to bully them. I don’t want to fight people who don’t want to fight me. It’s that simple.”
That’s a mic drop moment if we’ve ever heard one.
So… Who's Ducking Who?
The million-dollar question—was Makhachev avoiding Topuria?
It’s hard to say definitively. Some fans believe Makhachev had his eyes set on double champ status for a while and simply bided his time. Others see it as dodging a dangerous challenger in Topuria, especially after already facing two featherweights in Volkanovski.
Regardless, Topuria made it crystal clear—he wanted that smoke.
And now, he’s on the verge of claiming gold in Makhachev’s old house.
What’s Next?
Let’s look at the scoreboard:
✅ Makhachev is officially out of the lightweight picture—for now.
✅ Topuria gets a title shot against one of the most experienced fighters in UFC history.
✅ The fans? Still want to see these two settle things in the Octagon one day.
Will it ever happen? Maybe if Topuria becomes champ and defends his crown a few times, Makhachev might come back to reclaim what he left behind. Or maybe they’ll meet in the welterweight division later down the road.
For now, Topuria has a clear focus: beat Oliveira, grab that title, and prove that the guy everyone ducked is now the king of the jungle.
Final Takeaway
UFC fans live for stories like this—grudge matches that never happened, champions trading weight classes, and the raw emotion of fighters who want respect just as much as victory.
Topuria isn’t just chasing a belt. He’s chasing legacy. And if he wins at UFC 317, he might just become the new boogeyman in the lightweight division.
Stay tuned. This rivalry isn’t over—it’s just heating up.
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