Ilia Topuria doesn’t just want a fight with Islam Makhachev. He believes that matchup will prove definitively that he’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Currently No. 3 on MMA Fighting’s P4P list, the reigning featherweight champion has his eyes on the top spot and that puts him directly at odds with Makhachev, the UFC’s lightweight champion. Topuria has frequently mentioned wanting to set up a superfight between the two for Makhachev’s title and he reiterated that request in an interview with Fox Sports Australia.
“Me, personally, what I want to do is move up to 155 because I know that I can become a two-weight world champion,” Makhachev said. “Islam, he’s a great fighter, he’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound for the people.
“For me, it’s me, myself, I’m the best fighter in the world, so I know that I can do with him whatever I want to do, because I know that I am much better than him.”
Topuria has made a strong case to be considered the best fighter in the world, regardless of weight class. He topped several Fighter of the Year lists at the end of 2024, with highlight-reel knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, two of the best ever to compete at 145 pounds. In 16 pro bouts and eight UFC appearances, Topuria is yet to experience defeat.
Holloway was Topuria’s first title defense, and he’s open to sticking around in his division, but he’s hoping the matchmakers give him the opportunity to chase a second belt sooner rather than later.
“This is something that I want to do,” Topuria said. “The UFC knows that. But at the end of the day, this is something that the UFC decides because they know how to run the business. They know how to do it, they have a lot of experience, so if they tell me that they want me to keep defending the belt in the 145 division, maybe I will do that. But if they let me go up to 155, I will do that also.”
Should Topuria stay at 145 pounds, he has no shortage of potential challengers. A rumored rematch with Volkanovski looms, as do fresh challengers Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev. “El Matador” knows who he’d like to face next, if not Makhachev nor Volkanovski.
“I think Diego deserves it more because Movsar has more fights in the UFC, but he has eight fights, eight decisions, [one] by split decision, you need to finish someone,” Topuria said. “Do something, do something relevant, put yourself in that spot and why not? We can do it. But if you don’t finish anyone, I fight for the fans.
“I fight to entertain the fans, and I need someone inside the cage to be entertained. I don’t need someone who is only looking for the win and grab you and this and that, which he wouldn’t be able to do that with me, I would knock him out in the first round, but I need someone to hype up the fight.”
