According to Ilia Topuria on the ‘Full Send’ podcast, “If you see a competitive fight, they lose”. A remark loaded and aimed at Dagestani fighters and their incredible dominance in MMA. Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov both embody the relentless pressure, suffocating wrestling, and ironclad discipline that have become trademarks of fighters from the region.

But what happens when that dominance is challenged? UFC middleweight legend, Yoel Romero and fighter-turned-analyst Gaston ‘Tonga’ Reyno recently weighed in on the ‘Overdogs Espanol’ podcast. And their take on a potential Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria showdown may send waves in the MMA sphere!

Yoel Romero breaks down why Ilia Topuria could be the one to end Islam Makhachev’s reign at lightweight  

When asked if Ilia Topuria could defeat Islam Makhachev, Yoel Romero didn’t hesitate. He simply stated, “I’d love it. That fight fills me with excitement. ”

The Cuban powerhouse, known for his own explosive style, sees something special in ‘El Matador’. But his partner during the podcast, Reyno, pointed out that in his eyes it’s Topuria’s ability to bounce back from adversity that makes him stand out.

According to him, “Let me tell you something, I believe in Ilia. Remember Jai Herbert? He lost the first round, then he came out stronger and knocked him out. It’s a talent seen every 50 years. If he says that he can beat Makhachev, I believe him.”

And that’s when Romero dropped the bombshell. In his opinion, there’s history that backs his claims as he stated, “I was telling William, the Georgians have always been the Achilles heel of the Russian and Dagestani wrestlers, always.”

So, is it just a theory or there is some truth to it? Well, at UFC 311, Umar Nurmagomedov’s undefeated record came to an end at the hands of the reigning bantamweight champion, the Georgian dynamo, Merab Dvalishvili. Reyno, riding on Romero’s revelation then made his stance clear, “Now, I’m more confident that Topuria will beat Makhachev.”

As such, if history repeats itself, Ilia Topuria might just be the man to shatter the Dagestani aura of invincibility. He’s undefeated, explosive, and carries a well-rounded skill set that doesn’t rely overwhelmingly on one dimension. But, according to the Dagestani lightweight king, ‘El Matador’s quest to become ‘champ-champ’ may have another reason behind it!

Makhachev believes Topuria’s “good life” is the reason behind his lightweight ambitions  

The war of words between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev just took a sharp turn. If Topuria’s theory questioned the resilience of Dagestani fighters, Makhachev’s response went straight for ‘El Matador’s’ pride.

In a recent interview with the Russian outlet ‘Match TV’, Makhachev stated, “Maybe [I am warming up to this], but I heard that he has problems cutting weight, that he can no longer fit into the limit in his weight class… He’s probably already gained fat from the good life, and he already wants to leave that belt and move up.”

Moving beyond the shots at Topuria’s alleged struggles with making the 145 lbs. at featherweight, Makhachev then made it clear that he’s not going to hand him a title shot on a silver platter. Why? According to the Dagestani champion, “But I am not going to give him a chance right away because he hasn’t done all the work in his weight class. He has only one defense. He has other contenders he should have beaten but he doesn’t want to cut weight anymore.”

The message was simple: if Topuria wants his shot at double gold, he needs to prove he deserves it. So, where does this leave us? If Yoel Romero’s claim holds weight, Ilia Topuria might just be the latest Georgian warrior to dismantle the Dagestani blueprint.

Yet, MMA is never that simple. Styles make fights, and Islam Makhachev’s suffocating pressure has broken many before him. Will he prove himself, or will Makhachev’s challenge force him to rethink his path to greatness? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!