For quite some time, several MMA fans have been demanding to see a showdown between former UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev and former UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria.
But it seems like those fans will have to wait a bit longer as UFC CEO Dana White recently announced that Makhachev will vacate his championship title to move up to welterweight and challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the throne. Additionally, White shared that Topuria will lock horns against former 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight belt.
Islam Makhachev Fires Back at Ilia Topuria on Social Media
Topuria and Makhachev have been taking slight jabs at each other on social media. “El Matador” recently spoke to the media at the WOW 19 press conference in Alicante, slamming Makhachev and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz.
Topuria demanded that Abdelaziz thank him for not “beating up” Makhachev and accused the Dagestani fighter of taking the easy way out of a clash against him.
“[Ali Abdelaziz] should thank me for not beating up his star [Islam Makhachev],” said Topuria. “He still has value thanks to me because they have taken him out through the back door. Everybody knows it.”
🚨 Ilia Topuria GOING OFF on Ali Abdelaziz and Islam Makhachev:
“He should thank me for not beating up his star and that he still has value thanks to me because they have taken him out through the back door. Everybody knows it.”
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_)
Topuria’s comments did not sit well with Makhachev, who responded by uploading a social media post. The 33-year-old spoke about his accomplishments in the promotion’s lightweight shark tank.
He then took a dig at Topuria’s stint in the UFC’s 145-pound division and accused him of dodging multiple contenders.
Makhachev ended his post by asking “El Matador” to get one win at lightweight in order to secure a bout against him.
“Difference between me and you, that I cleaned top list in my division, moved to next, but you ran away from two contenders who had consecutive 5-9 wins in FW division,” argued Makhachev. “You are nobody in LW division, just a big mouth from Spain with nice haircut. Go get one W, and we can talk boy.”
Difference between me and you, that I cleaned top list in my division, moved to next, but you ran away from two contenders who had consecutive 5-9 wins in FW division. You are nobody in LW division, just a big mouth from Spain with nice haircut. Go get one W, and we can talk boy
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA)
Makhachev’s tweet earned a response from the Georgian-Spaniard.
“The difference between you and me is that I am a man and you are a coward,” Topuria said. “I speak and fight. You talk and hide. Run away far, leaving no trace.”
At the end of the response, Topuria added, “You are a little boy,” in Russian, Makhachev’s mother tongue, to fuel the rivalry further.
The difference between you and me is that I am a man and you are a coward. I speak and fight. you talk and hide. Run away far, leaving no trace. Ты маленький пацан. https://t.co/kDuhhdIB8t
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia)
Topuria and Oliveira will fight for the lightweight throne on June 28. The bout will headline the UFC 317 card, which will be held during International Fight Week. The pay-per-view event will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The event will also feature prominent names such as Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Kara-France, Beneil Dariush, Renato Moicano, Paulo Costa, and Manel Kape.
On the other hand, the UFC has not revealed the details for Makhachev’s welterweight title fight with Maddalena.