Daniel Cormier thinks there might be a very specific reason behind the feud between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev becoming as heated as it is. Topuria, the featherweight champion, is gearing up for his first title defense against Max Holloway at UFC 308 this month.

So sure is ‘El Matador’ that he will knock out ‘Blessed’ on the Abu Dhabi card that he is already planning for the future, which has kicked up quite a storm with the lightweight champ Makhachev. Their back and forth caught the attention of Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren, who discussed this beef on their podcast recently.

“Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev, it felt personal and like, these guys might have a real beef. Islam says ‘If Topuria keeps acting like that, it may finish badly for him. Something might happen.’ Ilia then responds ‘Let’s leave the kids out of it and settle it like adults inside the octagon in 2025,'” Cormier stated.

At which point Askren jumped in with a great observation. “Topuria is Georgian. And if you look at a map where he’s at in Georgia is right next to where Islam and those guys are from,” he said. While Topuria became a Spanish citizen earlier this year, he was indeed born in Georgia to Georgian parents. And that, geographical proximity in their homelands may be a contributing factor to their rivalry, Askren and Cormier feel. But what DC doesn’t like is the very real bad blood that is stewing between the two champs, which he fears may spill out of the cage.

“So it’s close to Dagestan I didn’t know that… Do you like whenever these fight beefs are more real like this? I don’t know man, I just worry sometimes and I don’t like it when it’s in the street like that. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt,” Cormier warned. But the question is, will Topuria and Makhachev indeed face each other in the octagon in 2025?

Lopes and Volkanovski stand in the way of Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev super-fight

Even if Ilia Topuria manages to defeat Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi (which is very far from a sure thing), the champ has two potential opponents already lined up. Former champ Alexander Volkanovski and Brazilian dynamo Diego Lopes. The seemingly nigh unbeatable ‘Volk’ of course, was shockingly knocked out by the Georgia native earlier this year to become champ.

And while Dana White was wishy-washy when asked about a rematch immediately after Volkanovski-Topuria, he is unlikely to allow ‘El Matador’ to move up and contend for a second UFC title before it. After all, the head honcho wants his champs to ‘clear out’ the division before they fight for double champ status, which surely involves a Volkanovski rematch.

But even if ‘Volk’ doesn’t get the rematch, there is one man ahead of him on the title ladder- Diego Lopes. The Brazilian is arguably the most exciting young prospect on the entire UFC roster. In addition, he has an exciting, ‘go-for-the-kill-from-the-first-bell’, style of fighting. And this is certainly something which has been rewarded with a rapid ascent by the UFC.

After all, Lopes is not only ranked #3 in the division, and is the backup fighter for Topuria-Holloway at UFC 308. He has very well earned his right to be next in line for the title. This is why it is unlikely that Topuria-Makhachev for the lightweight title will happen in 2025. What are your thoughts on Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria’s clash? Do you believe it can become a reality? Drop your views in the comment box!