In the pantheon of modern gladiatorial combat, Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria stand as warriors poised to clash—like Ares and Hermes preparing for an Olympic duel. The featherweight and lightweight god-kings embody different combat philosophies: Makhachev, the flag bearer of Dagestan’s finest mat prowess with unrelenting pressure while his Spanish-Georgian nemesis holds a definite edge on the feet, with concussive fists and with power not seen even in elite 145fers.

It is therefore natural that their potential cross-division bout transcends mere athletic competition. It’s a recipe for greatness but will we ever get to see this go down? Well, there are certain indicators for sure. What did Dana White mean when he recently said he had a ‘special’ fight planned for the 155lbs kingpin? Well, we don’t know, but many felt it would be a contest against a fighter at another weight division. Possibly even a double champ fight. This is where ‘El Matador’ enters the frame.

After all, Topuria is already a bonafide star and is desperate to fight Makhachev for his lightweight title. And that would really be special, the MMA equivalent of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. But Georgian MMA journalist Giorgi Kokiashvili, who has very good and cordial relations with the Topuria team, has poured cold water on these speculations.

“There are many rumors going around, and I’d like to say that Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria is NOT targeted at this moment. Rumors can be written about any fight, including Bryce Mitchell vs Alex Pereira, and “trust me bro” might be the best source of it, but to trust?! come on…” Kokiashvili wrote on X.

Of course, a Makhachev-Topuria fight would have probably been among the biggest in the promotion’s history. If it happens at lightweight, it would give Topuria the chance to become a double champ and put him into the stratosphere, perhaps even succeeding Conor McGregor as the UFC’s biggest superstar. For these reasons, the fight also makes a lot of commercial sense. But despite all of this, the Georgian journalist’s take does seem to be the correct one. Why? Well, let’s discuss.

The biggest hurdle in a possible Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria fight

Both Ilia Topuria and Islam Makahchev are at the height of their powers and seem nigh unstoppable. The Dagestani is on a fifteen-fight win streak- the second longest in UFC history just behind the legendary Anderson Silva. Moreover, the Dagestani just wiped the floor with Renato Moicano in their UFC 311 clash last month.

For his part, ‘El Matador’ knocked out the two greatest featherweights in the history of the sport last year. Their fight would not only be the best contest in terms of pure fighter quality but perhaps all the combat sports at the moment. And there is a good chance it smashes some PPV records too.

But the reason this probably isn’t the fight Dana White has promised is simple- Makhachev doesn’t want it. The lightweight champion has been clear- he wants to move up, maybe even two weight classes if necessary since he wants to win a title. Fighting Topuria at a lower weight class, even if for the featherweight title, won’t move the needle as much on the Dagestani’s legacy as a win at a higher weight class.

Since the UFC rarely forces fighters to take fights, it is unlikely that we will get to witness this clash in the near future. What do you think about the prospects of a possible Makhachev-Topuria fight? Let us know in the comment section below!