A former UFC fighter recently shared his perspective on the potential Ilia Topuria Islam Makhachev superfight, expressing doubts about the matchup occurring, especially if Makhachev secures the welterweight championship. The fighter highlighted that Makhachev’s move to welterweight might reduce the likelihood of facing Topuria, complicating fans’ hopes for a showdown between the two.
Originally, Topuria aimed to challenge Makhachev for the lightweight title. However, after Jack Della Maddalena defeated Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, Makhachev vacated his lightweight belt and moved up to welterweight. This shift led Topuria to fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight crown at UFC 317 last month, where Topuria earned a decisive knockout, becoming the 10th fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes.
Chael Sonnen Weighs In on the Feasibility of a Superfight
With many fans anticipating an Ilia Topuria Islam Makhachev superfight, UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen shared his thoughts in a recent YouTube video. Sonnen conveyed skepticism about Makhachev returning to lightweight after moving to welterweight, emphasizing the difficulty Makhachev has had making the 155-pound limit.
“The concept of Islam [Makhachev] returning to 155 is a real stretch for me…I don’t believe if Islam has success at 170, right? The biggest challenge that Islam’s ever had and clearly the most unpleasant experience that Islam has had in the sport is just beating the scale of 155. I think that Islam is going to be a lot like Ilia [Topuria]…I’m very confident in telling you guys, if Islam has success at 170 and becomes the champion, that whatever dreams you have of Islam versus Ilia haven’t gotten closer, they got further apart.”
—Chael Sonnen, UFC Hall of Famer
Sonnen further clarified how unlikely the fight would be unless Makhachev fails to maintain success in the welterweight division.
“If you have a dream of seeing Islam versus Ilia, it’s very unlikely. But the best way to get there would be if Islam was to lose at 170.”
—Chael Sonnen, UFC Hall of Famer
Dana White Supports the Idea of a Topuria vs. Makhachev Superfight
UFC President Dana White addressed the potential superfight during his appearance on the Full Send Podcast, underscoring that if Makhachev wins the welterweight title, a fight against Topuria is a natural next step. White dismissed hypotheticals but acknowledged that this matchup remains a strong option should events unfold accordingly.
“Islam [Makhachev] moves up and obviously if Islam won the title, you immediately have a superfight with him and Ilia [Topuria]. It’s one thing to sit around and talk about these fights before they happen or hypothetically speaking. I don’t like hypothetical. These are options that we have if things play out that way, but you never know what’s going to happen.”
—Dana White, UFC CEO
Looking Ahead to What the Future Holds
The possibility of an Ilia Topuria Islam Makhachev superfight remains clouded with uncertainty, influenced heavily by Makhachev’s performance in the welterweight division. While Topuria’s recent victory secured his place as a two-division champion, Makhachev’s ability to hold the welterweight title will determine the viability of their meeting inside the Octagon. Dana White’s openness to the fight keeps hope alive, but Chael Sonnen’s caution reflects the real challenges ahead.
As the welterweight landscape develops, fans and fighters alike will be watching closely to see if this highly anticipated superfight can come to fruition or if it will continue to remain a distant possibility.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Ilia Topuria Turkish?
A. Ilia Topuria, born on January 21, 1997, is a professional mixed martial artist from Georgia and Spain. He fights in the UFC’s Lightweight division and holds the title of UFC Lightweight Champion.