Tensions are rising between 155lbs god-king Islam Makhachev and 145lbs kingpin Ilia Topuria as talk of a potential mega-fight between the two continues to gain traction. A clash between champions from different divisions is always intriguing—but where do both fighters stand on the possibility of this blockbuster showdown? The Spanish-Georgian appears mentally locked in for the challenge, but what about Makhachev? The Dagestani powerhouse hasn’t dismissed the idea outright but made it clear he isn’t particularly interested.

Speaking to Match TV, Makhachev addressed Topuria’s persistent callouts, saying: “I’m not going to give him a shot right away because he hasn’t done all the work he was supposed to in his weight class. There are still contenders he needs to beat, but he doesn’t want to cut weight anymore. Let him move up and earn his shot, and we’ll definitely fight.”

On the other hand, why is Topuria so eager to take on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege? The Georgian-Spanish star recently shed light on his mindset during his first-ever podcast appearance on the Full Send Podcast, where he spoke with Kyle Forgeard.

“I think he is a great champion. You don’t become a world champion by chance—you have to do things right. Yeah, he’s a beast, but I love the competition. I don’t like to be a bully and fight guys I know 100% I’ll walk through.”

Topuria further explained his approach to matchmaking, making it clear he thrives on high-stakes challenges: “I like to fight guys the fans believe will be a competitive challenge. That’s the kind of expectation I want to create. With Islam, I’ll have that. But doing rematches with guys I’ve already beaten? I don’t think that would generate the same kind of excitement for the fans.”

Despite the growing buzz, the fight is far from official—but Topuria has his own theory as to why. ‘El Matador’ was present at WOW 16 event where he spoke to MARCA before his triumphant entrance in Miribilla. The featherweight champion flashed a confident smile before making a bold claim: “He’s afraid.” Doubling down, Topuria didn’t hesitate to challenge Makhachev’s willingness to step up.

“Of course he’s afraid… As usual, it’s an easy fight until they put your name on the contract. We all know, if it were that easy, and if I’m as small as he says, he would have already shared the Octagon with me.”

While Topuria remains determined to test himself at lightweight—whether or not Makhachev stands across from him—Makhachev has largely shrugged off the callouts. However, there may be more to this developing storyline than meets the eye. UFC CEO Dana White recently made a cryptic promise regarding Makhachev’s future—one that could shape what’s next for the lightweight champion.

Is Dana White cooking something ‘special’ for Islam Makhachev?

During the UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight press conference, Dana White was asked about his cryptic promise regarding Islam Makhachev’s next move. When pressed for details—specifically whether it involved his own weight class or another—the UFC boss remained tight-lipped: “As soon as we announce it, you will know,” White said, keeping fans on edge.

At the center of all the speculation is a potential super fight with Ilia Topuria, a matchup that has the MMA world buzzing with anticipation. However, Makhachev’s indifferent responses have only fueled doubts, leaving the bout shrouded in uncertainty.

Enter MMA analysts like Chael Sonnen, who believes White’s surprise might not involve Topuria at all. “Dana commented four days ago about Islam, saying, ‘We have something special for his next fight,’ but none of us know what that means. I cannot believe that the ‘something special’ is him fighting a ’45 pounder. That would be a super fight, sure—but special for Islam? I don’t think so,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, Makhachev seems to already know what’s in store but is keeping it under wraps. Speaking to Match TV, the lightweight champion confirmed he has an offer from the UFC but isn’t ready to reveal any details. “I can’t announce it yet, but there is an offer that we need to sit down with the team and think about, because there are options. We need to decide together what to do…There is an option in my weight class, and there is an offer from the UFC. But let’s wait for now.” Makhachev explained.

So, will Topuria get his shot at the lightweight throne, or does the UFC have something entirely different planned for Makhachev? For now, all we can do is wait for the official announcement. Let us know what you think!