Daniel Cormier Reveals Real Reason Behind Islam Makhachev Allegedly Rejecting Ilia Topuria Fight

If you thought the UFC was a wish-granting factory, think again. Islam Makhachev had just a couple of wishes. Don’t fight smaller guys, move up a weight class, and maybe, just maybe, get his hands on a second belt. But as fate (and Dana White) would have it, those wishes were promptly ignored. And instead, as Ramadan wraps up, this Dagestani kingpin’s next bout looms. But it looks like his next opponent is someone he has been dismissing for a while now.

So, got any guess? It’s not that hard. Ilia Topuria. Daniel Cormier recently weighed in on the chaos surrounding why Makhachev supposedly shut the door on a fight with ‘El Matador’. On ESPN’s ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ with Chael Sonnen, Cormier dropped some inside knowledge that flips the ‘Islam is ducking Topuria’ narrative on its head. “You know, Chael, that was my initial thought,” Cormier admitted. “But I’ve talked to those guys a little bit, and I know they think Ilia should fight someone first.” Seems like Islam’s camp isn’t impressed with Topuria’s VIP access to the lightweight title picture.

And according to Cormier, this isn’t just about picking opponents, it’s about a fighter’s legacy. “Fighting Alexander Volkanovski, who at the time was number one pound-for-pound. Remember when their first fight was announced? It was a battle for the number one spot,” Cormier explained. “Islam beat him, but it was close, and then we had this weird moment where both Islam and Volk were number one. Islam was like, ‘Wait, give me what you said I’d get.’ And the world responded, ‘Well, you only beat a 145-pounder.’”

See the pattern here? Islam’s track record boasts title defenses against Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski (twice), and Renato Moicano. Now, if he adds Topuria to that list, the narrative writes itself, ‘Makhachev only beats featherweights.’ And quite frankly, Islam is over it. “He’s probably thinking, ‘I don’t want to do this again because I know what comes after beating a guy, even if he’s dangerous, who’s still considered a featherweight,’” Cormier concluded on this. That makes sense, right? So is the UFC just tuning him out, or are we the ones refusing to let this go?

Isn’t it time to move on from the Islam Makhachev vs. smaller fighters debate?

If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Even Khabib Nurmagomedov called out this problem last year, shutting down the idea of an Islam vs. Topuria showdown. “(Makhachev) has already given chances,” ‘The Eagle’ pointed out. “People criticized him for fighting Volkanovski twice, so why should he give another chance to a 145-pound champion?” And honestly, the argument checks out. Why should the reigning lightweight king keep defending his throne against guys from a division below?

But, let’s be real. This is the UFC. And right now, Ilia Topuria is UFC boss, Dana White’s newest shiny toy. His knockout win over ‘The Great’ at UFC 298 made him an overnight superstar, and you better believe the UFC is ready to cash in. Whether Islam likes it or not, ‘El Matador’ is very much in the conversation.

While the UFC keeps pushing the Topuria storyline, another name refuses to fade into the background. Justin Gaethje. The man has been lingering outside the lightweight title door for years, but the UFC refuses to let him through. ‘The Eagle’ choked him out in 2020, and Oliveira put him to sleep in 2022. And to top it off, Max Holloway turned him into a meme at UFC 300. And yet, here he is, back in the mix, with a win against Rafael Fiziev.

Dana White seems to be warming up to the idea of ‘The Highlight’ getting a shot. “What’s he ranked now? Fourth or something?” The headhoncho mused at UFC 313. “The odds of him getting the title shot are pretty good.” Even Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, is on board. “Fantastic, then it’s Justin Gaethje. That would be ideally for us the perfect matchup based on his standing and what he’s done.” But what does Makhachev actually want? Simple. He wants to move up and chase champ-champ status. “Oh man, I’m tired of giving chances to small guys, I need my second belt” is practically the Dagestani champ’s theme song by now.

And with the UFC’s lightweight division in a chaotic state, the decision ultimately rests on what sells the most pay-per-views. So, what do you think? Will the UFC push for Makhachev vs. Topuria to capitalize on the latter’s newfound stardom? Or will they reward Gaethje for his perseverance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!