UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t believe Ilia Topuria has earned a shot at the title just yet.
Former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria recently moved to the lightweight division after forfeiting his featherweight title and plans to face Islam Makhachev. Although he never suffered a defeat at 145, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev doesn’t feel that alone qualifies Topuria for a shot at the 155 title—and his coach Khabib Nurmagomedov agrees.
Topuria is yet to make his lightweight debut, but fans are hopeful he’ll eventually face Makhachev. However, the champ’s team isn’t in support of the matchup.
“Dangerous, let’s say more competitive—I think it’s [Arman] Tsarukyan,” Khabib Nurmagomedov told Adam Zubayraev recently. “I think Arman is a more serious fighter than Topuria. Topuria is a good fighter at 145, but we haven’t seen him at 155. I believe Arman is more competitive for Islam than Topuria.
“I don’t know what kind of agreements Topuria and the UFC have, but from Islam’s side, he already gave two title shots to 145 champions. Both times, Islam won. Now a third time—OK, let’s imagine Topuria moves up and gets a title shot right away, Islam beats him, then Topuria fights again, he loses again. So basically, [he’s] a nobody at 155. Islam beat a guy who was a nobody at 155. Because of that, in terms of legacy for Islam—for his résumé—I understand Islam’s risks, too. That’s why Islam says, let him fight, let him become a real contender.”
Makhachev was originally set to face title contender Arman Tsarukyan, but Tsarukyan withdrew days before weigh-ins and was replaced by Renato Moicano, who lost the fight. While Makhachev is willing to face anyone, he has shown some bias toward 145-pound fighters moving up to challenge him at lightweight. He’s already been through that scenario with Alexander Volkanovski, defeating the Australian twice.
“Islam will fight anyone,” Nurmagomedov said. “Islam himself said, ‘I will fight any fighter.’ But every time with Islam—OK, once, twice—now a third time, they’re giving him a 145 champion moving up to 155. Come on now. Islam also deserves a say in this. He’s the best fighter, and he fought the 145 champ. He flew to him, went to Australia, and fought him in his backyard. That’s why we as a team believe Topuria is a worthy fighter—he is a champion, he defended the belt, beat very serious guys. But you see all the guys at 145, even [Max] Holloway—when he moved up to 155, he did nothing.”
“Islam doesn’t have much time left either. If you think about it, Islam will be 34 soon. So he doesn’t want to fight Topuria or Volkanovski or someone stepping in on short notice like [Renato] Moicano. Islam wants to fight big names who really deserve it—guys who have been at 155 for a long time. We have nothing personal here, but if you’re moving up a weight class, earn it. That’s more or less our stance.”
For now, Makhachev is content with battling contenders in the lightweight division, but in the near future, he plans to pursue a second title. He may even skip welterweight and jump straight to middleweight, especially since his friend and teammate Belal Muhammad is currently the champ at 170. However, Muhammad’s upcoming fight with Jack Della Maddalena might change things.
“Islam wants to move up to 170, but we can’t fight there because Belal is there,” Nurmagomedov said. “He’s a close friend to us. That’s why we can’t put relationships above titles. That’s just not how we do things.
“If Maddalena were the champion, Islam would’ve already fought him. But as I understand it, the UFC is waiting for the May event where Belal and Maddalena will fight. Personally, I want Belal to win. I sincerely hope he does. But if Maddalena wins, I think the UFC could offer Islam a fight with Maddalena at 170.”
