The lightweight division is due for an overhaul. The previous generation of all-time 155fers is almost out on its way with the new guard starting to take center stage. But it is also true that not every fighter has been able to breach this wall. Remember Benoit Saint-Denis trying his best to hinder Dustin Poirier’s last bid for the title at UFC 299? Or how about the recent UFC 313 co-main event where Rafael Fiziev fell short of Justin Gaethje yet again? Or even Arman Tsarukyan who barely survived Charles Oliveira and eeked out a split decision victory last year. However, all these shortcomings don’t really seem to apply to a force called Ilia Topuria!

Under the blinding lights, ‘La Leyenda’ envisions more than victory—he craves legend status. The soon-to-be-former 145lbs virtuoso doesn’t merely plan to defeat Islam Makhachev. He intends to rewrite the very mythology of the lightweight division. Moreover, the Spanish-Georgian juggernaut wants to shatter the status quo that has been established for so long. And recently, Topuria took this to a whole other level.

‘La Leyenda’ wants to submit Makhachev who is probably the best grappler in the sport. In fact, the Spanish-Georgian champion wants to go one step further! He wants to submit Makhachev with his favorite choke and talk trash to Khabib Nurmagomedov while he does it. “Me, personally, I’ll ask him [Makhachev] what’s your favorite submission? I don’t know, whatever, D’Arce choke. I am gonna submit you with that… I’ll take him close to Khabib, I’ll submit him closer to Khabib… Khabib used to take people on his shoulder, take them down, and talk to Dana. I would do that to Khabib. I would take him, pow, talk to Khabib: ‘Khabib I have to do it,'” Topuria said on the ‘PBD’ podcast.

Poll of the day

Poll 1 of 5

Do you think Ilia Topuria can back up his bold claims and submit Islam Makhachev?

Absolutely, Topuria is the real deal

No way, Makhachev is too dominant

It's possible, but unlikely

I just want to see the fight happen

Do you think Ilia Topuria deserves a title shot against Islam Makhachev without proving himself in the lightweight division?

Yes, he's a top contender

No, he needs to earn it in lightweight

Maybe, if Makhachev moves up

I don't care, just want to see a good fight

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If Islam Makhachev moves to 170 lbs, who should be the next contender for the lightweight title?

Ilia Topuria

Arman Tsarukyan

Belal Muhammad

Someone else entirely

Do you think Netflix should reconsider its stance and secure UFC broadcasting rights?

Yes, it's a missed opportunity for Netflix

No, UFC isn't worth the $1 billion demand

Maybe, but only if UFC lowers its price

I don't care as long as I can watch UFC somewhere

How do you feel about Dana White's praise for ESPN despite the failed negotiations?

It's just business, he's keeping doors open

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What makes this vision so audacious isn’t just the technical challenge—it’s the symbolic dismantling of an entire fighting dynasty. To submit Makhachev with a choke would be to conquer Dagestan with its weapon of choice, like defeating a swordsman with his blade. Topuria, of course, is nothing if not self-confident. ‘La Leyenda’ is a big believer in the power of manifestation, which is why he updated his Instagram bio to say he was the featherweight champ before he had even fought Alexander Volkanovski for the title last year.

But submitting Makhachev with the submission of the latter’s choice, while pulling a literal ‘Khabib’ on Khabib? Remember the Hall of Famer’s bout with Michael Johnson at UFC 205 where the Dagestani mauled the American on his way to the lightweight title? While dominating Johnson on the ground, Nurmagomedov stated emphatically, “You have to give up! Hey, I need to fight for the title. You know I deserve this. You agree, huh?”

Moreover, Nurmagomedov even conversed with Dana White who was cage-side for the PPV while dishing out the beating and also asking for his title shot. This sort of dominance! This is the reason it sounds way too good even for Topuria. Maybe, but it doesn’t matter! Topuria believes it, and that is the first step towards manifesting it. Of course, ‘La Leyenda’ won’t be doing so anytime soon since Makhachev has refused to fight him. And in a worrying turn of events, there are signs that Topuria might never get to fight the Dagestani champ!

Islam Makhachev is rumored to be one step from changing divisions

The only thing Islam Makhachev wants in his life now is to become a UFC double champ. Sources in his camp have been claiming that the Dagestani native is waiting to see the result of the Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena UFC 315 welterweight title clash. Muhammad, the welterweight champ, and Makhachev, of course, are good friends. In fact, they consider each other brothers. And since the Dagestanis have a strict ‘no fighting teammates or friends’ policy, the lightweight champ won’t fight ‘Bully B’.

But if Maddalena wins and becomes the new 170-pound king this June, well, that certainly opens the door for Makhachev to fight for a second title. And make no mistake, Makhachev is desperate if he sees half a chance for a welterweight title shot. “This is my dream to be double champion. I don’t want to leave the sport before I take the second belt,” the Dagestani champ told streamer Adin Ross in a recent interview.

However, Ali Abdelaziz clarified and stated that this possibility was “fake news.” But this is the fight business and when a champion as great as Makhachev strives to achieve something, things usually fall in order rather quickly. We will have to watch and wait if Makhachev stays at 155lbs for a last hurrah or moves up to achieve what even his mentor couldn’t do.

In which case, the Spanish-Georgian will never have the chance to submit Makhachev, and the fans will be left with perhaps the greatest what-if matchup in history. What do you think about Ilia Topuria’s tall claims about making Islam Makhachev tap out?