Ilia Topuria’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) has sent ripples through the MMA sphere! The former featherweight king, who has now set his sights on the lightweight crown, dropped verbal haymakers with the same swagger he uses inside the cage. But what really set the internet ablaze? One name, the Dagestani juggernaut, Islam Makhachev.

‘La Leyenda’ didn’t mince words. “I would like to fight with Islam, that’s for sure,” he told Joe Rogan, cool as ice. But when the JRE host asked what he’d do if offered a No. 1 contender fight instead, Topuria didn’t blink. “I wouldn’t fight for a number 1 contender fight.” He made it clear that he doesn’t just want the belt—he demands it.

Rogan looked a bit surprised as he inquired, “Really? You only want to fight for the title?” and Topuria doubled down stating, “Of course.”

The numbers didn’t lie either. According to a post shared on Instagram by ‘Black Belt MMA’ Ilia Topuria’s episode (JRE MMA Show #166)  racked up 1.4 million views in just 24 hours! For context, Jiri Prochazka, Israel Adesanya, and Belal Muhammad all barely matched that over several months with their appearances on the highly popular podcast. Why this frenzy? Well, the fans had an idea about the numbers, and here’s a look at what the netizens had to say!

Fans credit Islam Makhachev as the reason behind Ilia Topuria overshadowing other UFC stars on the Joe Rogan Experience 

For some fans, the charisma, the dominance, and the confidence are the reasons behind Ilia Topuria’s massive rise to prominence. Currently ranked No. 3 on the P4P (Pound-for-Pound) list in the UFC, ‘La Leyenda’ is undefeated in his professional career so far and is also the only man to knock out Max Holloway inside the Octagon!

“He’s the new face of the UFC”

A fan praised Topuria’s calm demeanor and killer instinct. For them, it wasn’t just about callouts. It was about presence—the kind that fills a room and commands a division. In fact, during his conversation with Joe Rogan, the former featherweight champion proclaimed, “You (Makhachev) say that you are a world champion, that you’re going to keep dominating the division, all that. I’m here. You can’t keep avoiding me all the time.”

“I liked Illia’s appearance on JRE. Seems like a good guy, very confident in his skills.”

Some fans weren’t watching just for Topuria—they wanted to see what he’d say about Islam Makhachev. The Dagestani champion’s name, as always, stirs chaos and curiosity. And with ‘La Leyenda’ sure about his next target, it could be why the episode managed to capture the community’s attention to such a degree.

“Islam Makhachev is the reason”

However, others pointed out the algorithm behind the incredible number of views the episode amassed in just 24 hours. According to them, the terms of the Spotify-Rogan deal that ended its exclusivity period in 2024 were the reason why other episodes didn’t perform as well on YouTube. But still, the speed at which the views for the Topuria episode climbed is incredible. 

“Joe Rogan was under contract with Spotify when every other podcast (besides Ilia) was released. The videos were never released on YT until recently. That’s why the views are so much lower.”

But not everyone was sold on Topuria’s title demand. Why? One critic believed the Spanish-Georgian star hasn’t earned his shot, just his screen time. Even Islam Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently confessed that there are other contenders who might pop up ahead of Topuria. In a statement on the ‘Javier & Mo Show’ podcast, he stated, “Paddy (Pimblett) is ready to face anybody, I mean, what he’s done already, his credentials, his winning record in the UFC, his hype, and what he can do, how he can motivate people. If they give him the next title shot, he deserves it.”

“Only reason its gotten this many views is to see his delusional reasoning for fighting Islam. He wants all the goodies without doing the work”

Other fans kept it simple as they pointed out the drama, the rivalry, and the build-up is what they were looking for, and the Spanish-Georgian UFC star seemingly delivered on that front!

“I’m watching this too see what he gonna say about Islam Makhachev again”

So, what’s the real reason behind Ilia Topuria’s record-breaking JRE numbers? Was it his swagger, his unbeaten run, or the magnetic presence of Joe Rogan’s platform? For many fans, it all circled back to one name—Islam Makhachev. Whether they were curious, critical, or just eager for drama, viewers flooded in to hear exactly what ‘La Leyenda’ had to say about the lightweight champ.

In just 24 hours, Topuria did what others couldn’t in months, and whether you love him or doubt him, everyone was watching. Do you think Ilia Topuria’s challenge will be accepted by the Dagestani champion? Or will someone like Paddy Pimblett swoop in and grab the chance instead? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!