What makes a fight truly unforgettable? Is it the punches, the knockouts, or the drama that unfolds before the first bell even rings? For many MMA fans, Movsar Evloev’s clash with Rafael Dias in the M-1 Bantamweight Championship co-main event is a perfect blend of all three. Whether it’s Movsar’s “big brother moment” or the chaos inside the cage, this fight remains one for the history books. But why years later, does it still ignite debates? Could Ilia Topuria, the current featherweight king, be the next in line?

Let’s set the scene. Back in 2018, Evloev was a rising star with a 10-0 record. At the pre-fight face-off, Dias pulled a cringe-worthy stunt, snatching the undefeated champion’s belt in a desperate show of bravado. But Evloev wasn’t rattled. When the promotor handed the belt back to him, with an ice-cold response, he turned to Dias with a ‘Here, you can have it’ response. Talk about a mic drop moment without even saying much!

Fast forward to the fight, and it’s clear Dias bit off more than he could chew. By Round 5, Movsar delivered a brutal KO that sent Dias crashing to the canvas. The commentators were losing their minds, yelling, “What is the referee doing?” as the referee failed to step in. The result? A highlight reel moment that’s still talked about today.

The comparison is hard to ignore. At UFC 298, ahead of his featherweight title fight with Alexander Volkanovski, Ilia pulled a similar stunt at the pre-fight press conference. In a disrespectful move, he hoisted Volkanovski’s belt, sparking plenty of drama before the feud even reached the Octagon. Just like Dias in 2018, Topuria didn’t hesitate to fuel the flames, but unlike Dias, he backed it up by bulldozering the Aussie’s historic reign and claiming the belt when it mattered the most. Could this parallel set the stage for a clash of unbeaten titans in Evloev vs. Topuria?

Now, here’s the thing, the Russian’s 2018 performance was a glimpse into the dominance he’d bring to the Octagon. At the time, it was just another win. But today? He’s 19-0 and sitting pretty at #4 in the UFC featherweight rankings after dismantling Alijamain Sterling at UFC 310. And fans are starting to wonder, is Ilia Topuria, who’s also unbeaten at 16-0, ready for this?

“Ilia (Topuria) definitely has a challenge in this beast,” fans react to Movsar Evloev’s viral KO

Let’s start with the obvious, people are still mad at that referee. “The ref was like, u gonna learn today BOY,” one fan joked, while another added, “Didn’t know Mario Yamasaki was still referring.” The delayed stoppage was so shocking that even the commentators couldn’t stay calm and the comment was a nod to Yamasaki who was infamous for extremely late stoppages in bouts he officiated.

But the pre-fight drama? That’s what’s got fans buzzing. “Lmao that ‘here you can hold it’ was such a cold big brother move. Opponent instantly realized how cringe he was being,” one fan wrote. Another added, “He tried to take Movsar’s belt, but when Movsar was like ‘Here, have it’ he wouldn’t take it.” It’s these little moments that turn fights into legends.

The nostalgia is real too. Some fans are reminiscing about Movsar’s rise in the M-1 scene. “I’m pretty sure Islam Makhachev fought there once back in the day as well,”  one fan recalled, tying the viral clip to the legacy of Dagestani dominance. And then there’s the Ilia Topuria angle. “Topuria needs to see this…Movsar has finished somebody,” one fan didn’t hold back.

Another chimed in, “Ilia definitely has a challenge in this beast.” While some fans are hyped about the potential matchup, others remain skeptical. “People look at his record, see only decisions, and think he’s boring.” Some fans say his UFC run has lacked the excitement, he used to bring. What do you think? Can these two undefeated warriors avoid crossing paths for much longer? Does Movsar have what it takes to dethrone Ilia Topuria? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!