Ilia Topuria isn’t going to do Islam Makhachev any favors if he ever decides to return to the UFC lightweight division.
With a chance to claim the now vacant 155-pound title with a fight booked against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, Topuria is excited to add another championship to his legacy even if he didn’t get the matchup against Makhachev like he wanted. Instead, Makhachev is moving up to welterweight to challenge new champion Jack Della Maddalena later this year, but he’s hinted at potentially returning to his old stomping grounds one day in the future to reclaim that title as well.
Well much like Makhachev showed little interest in facing Topuria when he moved up from featherweight, “El Matador” is returning the favor by telling the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport that he’ll have to earn his way back to a title shot if he ever comes back to lightweight.
“You know from the beginning, he wanted to give the impression that he had some sort of decision [to make],” Topuria said during a press conference to promote his upcoming fight. “He also said about a week ago ‘My move up to welterweight isn’t going to matter because I’m not planning on vacating my title.’ You remember that right? And I had said before that, I didn’t move up to lightweight to ask anyone for anything and that I was the one in charge.
“So who got their way, who did what they said? As always, him or me? So after this fight when I have the belt, he can get in line, which is a long one and someone’s eyes will be shining.”
Ilia Topuria says Islam Makhachev has to ‘get in line’ if he wants to fight him after he wins the lightweight title
“After this fight when I have the belt, he can get in line, which is a long one.”
@KOlmeneroMMA #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/gatm0ZziKk
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 18, 2025
It’s true that Makhachev stated that even if he moved up to welterweight that he didn’t plan on giving up his lightweight title but that’s not how things played out.
This Saturdays main event will define what’s my next move is. But regardless of outcome that fight, I’m not going to vacate my lightweight title! We might get real contender there! pic.twitter.com/c57plqZKcu
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) May 9, 2025
Much like Topuria moving up to a new division, and giving up his featherweight title, Makhachev ultimately had to do the same when he relinquished his lightweight title so he could pursue a second belt in the welterweight division.
So neither of them have the chance to become “champ-champ,” but Topuria has made it clear that his future only lies at lightweight after enduring some difficult weight cuts to get down to 145 pounds.
Perhaps Makhachev thinks differently about potentially going back to lightweight but it seems Topuria is more than ready to turn the tables on him if that happens by telling the now former champion to earn his way back to a title shot rather than having anything handed to him.
The back and forth between Topuria and Makhachev has only ratcheted up in recent days, but they won’t face each other next and there’s no telling if this showdown ever happens in the future.
