The featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, has continued to target Islam Makhachev. With the heat between ‘El Matador’ and the Dagestani team rising ever so quickly, Topuria has revealed that he can indeed defeat the undisputed UFC lightweight champion inside the Octagon. Needless to say, the Spaniard would need this confidence if he ever tries to move into the LW division and fight for the championship title in the division. But why is he not intimidated by Makhachev’s superior wrestling skills?

Well, it all reflects the time when the Georgian-born mixed martial artist competed in the realm of grappling. With the Greco-Roman wrestling world filled with Dagestani fighters, Topuria had several bouts set against them. And that gave him insights on how to counter the Dagestanis’ wrestling techniques. In a recent interview, the featherweight champ said, “For Islam, I represent a style that he knows would beat him. He knows because I know very well where he comes from. When I was little and I participated in Greco-Roman wrestling championships, I have shared many championships with many Dagestanis. I know how their thought process works. I know their level of technique, their level of strength. I know what bothers them, what doesn’t bother them. I know them very well.”

Ilia Topuria admitted that fighting Islam Makhachev wouldn’t really come easy. However, his confidence in his own strength beamed like a Green Lantern’s ring. The Spaniard continued, “I would make Islam suffer a lot. Too much. I’m a guy who has impeccable physical preparation. In the fifth round I am the same as in the first, and I represent a threat at any second of the fight. A style that Islam has never ever faced in his life, and will never face unless he faces me. So that is why I say that right now, there is no one who can overshadow me.” 

With the rise in heat between Topuria and Makhachev, all eyes have focused on the trash-talk that ‘El Matador’ sent forth in Makhachev’s way. This pushed the Dagestani team to defend their champion and warn Topuria for it. But the Spanish fighter wasn’t someone who could be shushed so easily.

Ilia Topuria lashes out at the Dagestani team after challenging Islam Makhachev

Right after Topuria issued a challenge to Makhachev, members of the Dagestani team started attacking the featherweight champion. They warned that Makhachev could easily defeat the 27-year-old in a street fight. But Topuria didn’t back down. He took the chance and lashed back at Makhachev’s extended family in a recent video. 

Topuria said, “I don’t have anything personal with him. The only point is that he’s the world champion in the lightweight division. I wanna move up to the lightweight division. I wanna face him in the future. I said something like ‘ I want to face him in the Octagon ‘ and all his cousins came out ‘When I see you in the street. When I see you around, I’m gonna do this and that ‘. Oh, shut the f–k up. You are not gonna do anything. So shut up.” 

With his aim set straight at greatness in the MMA world, Topuria revealed his plans to fight in the lightweight and the welterweight category. This indeed put Belal Muhammad in his crosshairs. But Makhachev had a suggestion for Topuria. He claimed that the only way the Spaniard could make it to a title shot at the LW class was by defeating Max Holloway in his upcoming bout and then rising over Movsar Evloev in his next battle. Apart from that, the Dagestani champ has yet to say something about the featherweight champ’s callouts. No doubt, Topuria is a long way ahead of his dream of becoming a double champion. 

What are your thoughts on Topuria’s confidence against Makhachev? Let us know if you think he can actually defeat the Dagestani fighter in the comments down below.