W͏hen you k͏nock out two ͏of the greatest featherweights͏ of ͏all time ͏with͏in a ye͏ar, it͏’s on͏l͏y natu͏ral f͏or the MMA͏ c͏ommunity to have sky-high expec͏tation͏s of yo͏u. It’s͏ ͏equ͏al͏ly nat͏ural for͏ y͏o͏u to develop a heightened sen͏se ͏o͏f con͏f͏i͏de͏n͏ce—and t͏hat’s ͏precis͏ely wh͏at͏’s ͏ha͏p͏pening w͏ith fea͏therweight ͏champion I͏lia T͏opuria. The͏ Span͏ish-Georgian fighter h͏a͏s mastered͏ the art of playing m͏ind͏ ͏games w͏ith his opponents͏,͏ and af͏ter his stunn͏ing kn͏ock͏out of Max H͏olloway, the MMA world has͏ b͏egun to take hi͏s words se͏riously.

So fa͏r, Topur͏ia has ͏back͏ed up ever͏ything he’s pr͏omised. Now, he’s making another bold͏ claim: ͏that if͏ h͏e ever faces ͏Islam Makhachev then he would be the first one to submit him! While having a conversation with the media at the UFC 308 post-fight press conference, Ilia Topuria asserted that he would be the very first person ever to put a submission on Islam Makhachev, “If someone could submit him, I will be the first one to submit him.” Ilia Topuria’s words should not be taken lightly considering ‘EL Matador’ promised that he would be the first person to knockout Max Holloway and he did it astonishingly as well.

But what’s Makhachev’s opinion on Topuria’s callout? When asked about the rivalry, Islam Makhachev emphasized that he would face but the timeline is yet to be decided, “100% we will have some talk. He always talks about me, probably wants to get something to me. I don’t know what it is; we will see, and we will talk. We will fight if he wants to,” said the Dagestani champion.

Team K͏habib has been quite c͏ritical o͏f Il͏ia Topuria, with several members emphasizing that Topuria͏ would not stand a chance against Islam Ma͏khachev͏, especially ͏give͏n that Makhachev is at th͏e pea͏k of his career. In o͏ne͏ of his stat͏ements, Topuri͏a b͏oldly c͏laimed ͏that he might defeat Makhachev in a street fight. In response, Usman N͏urmagomedov cou͏ntered by assertin͏g that͏ Topuria ͏w͏ouldn’t even be able to͏ touch the ligh͏twe͏ight champion.

That’s not all. Even Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Tagir Ulanbekov hit back at Ilia Topuria. Abubakar Nurmagomedov took to his X handle to state “liya Topuria, why do you need all this? Fly to me, let’s rest on the shores of the Indian Ocean.” Tagir Ulanbekov took a step further and advised the featherweight champion to consult a doctor, “Ilia, I advise you to put aside your dividends and find a good dentist. Your dental structure will be affected at the first meeting.”  Regardless, the fans now have a soft corner for Ilia Topuria after the Holloway knockout and Makhachev’s statement might have backfired on him.

MMA community gives a reality check to Islam Makhachev for his comments

Starting off, it was former lightweight champion, Rafael Dos Anjos who raised a very genuine question for the entire lightweight division, “Is UFC short on LW contenders or Slam wants only fight against FW?” However, it must be noted that before facing Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev would have to defend his title against Arman Tsarukyand and maybe even Charles Oliveira again.

Ilia Topuria has been undefeated in his MMA career and he is particularly looking invincible as of now. Looking at this, a curious fan wrote, “Islam is the only one who can win against him at the moment.” 

The first Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski fight was such a close endeavor that the entire MMA community stood divided over the result. Despite being a featherweight, Volkanovski gave the lightweight champion a run for his money, and looking at this a fan believes that Makhachev might have a hard time against Ilia Topuria, “Can’t say he didn’t struggle against Volk. The fight needed with Volk landing ground n pound and Islam not being able to stand up on his own lol.” However, another social media user thinks the opposite, “Topuria is getting worked.” 

Ilia Topruria stands at 5’7″ while on the other hand, Islam Makhachev stands at 5’10”, this height difference might hinder ‘El Matador’s progression according to a fan, “Problem is size. Skill for skill ilia takes the cake but Islam is a welterweight fighting at 55.” Now, there is a counterargument to be made here. Max Holloway was 5’11” and Topuria KO’d him flush. Makhachev is not just taller, he’s bigger, in that he’s packing more muscle mass, as the fan pointed out. So he might be able to take Ilia’s punches better than Holloway did. Makhachev also won the hard way against a heavy-hitting Dustin Poirier.

Last but not least, a fan has the utmost belief in Islam Makhcahev that he would stop Topuria, “Some fighters with winning streaks have been stopped by Islam, and next time Islam will stop Topuria.”

Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria’s clash might happen sometime after both of the fighters defend their title against the best of their division. Who do you think wins if it happens? State your thoughts in the comments below.