Ilia Topuria thinks Islam Makhachev’s days in the lightweight division are numbered but not for the reason you’d think.
UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has spent his entire career fighting at 155lbs, defending his world title 4 times in a row against former featherweights Dustin Poirier, Renato Moicano, and the newly-crowned featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski twice.
Another featherweight who’s chomping at the bit to get his hands on Makhachev is Ilia Topuria, who relinquished his title earlier this year for a promised lightweight title fight.
Makhachev vs. Topuria would be a massive super-fight but apparently that’s not the only one that’s on the table for Makhachev.
Embed from Getty Images
Joe Rogan says Dana White’s interested in Islam Makhachev vs. Belal Muhammad
Speaking to UFC CEO Dana White over the weekend, UFC commentator Joe Rogan asked White for inside info on future fights.
“He was telling me all the issues that they’re having with different fights,” Rogan told Topuria on his podcast.
“He was actually specifically talking about what happens if Belal [Muhammad] wins [his next fight].”
Belal Muhammad is the current UFC Welterweight Champion, set to defend his title for the first time against Jack Della Maddalena on at UFC 315 on May 10th.
Makhachev has previously mentioned he wants to move up a weight class for a second belt.
“Islam and Belal have been— they’ve been talking about Islam fighting Belal,” Rogan revealed.
‘That’s gonna happen’ … Ilia Topuria on Islam Makhachev fighting for welterweight gold
One of the only roadblocks in this fight taking place is A: Muhammad has trained with Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov before and B: a potential Jack Della Maddalena upset.
Nevertheless, Ilia Topuria is confident Makhachev and Muhammad will put their friendship aside for legacy.
“That’s gonna happen,” Topuria said of Muhammad vs. Makhachev.
“If [Muhammad] wins, they’re gonna make that fight happen against Islam,” Topuria added.
“The problem with Islam fighting Belal is that they train together,” Rogan explained.
Topuria doesn’t see a problem with Makhachev and Muhammad training in the past.
“How many guys we see fight fighting between each other that they used to train before?” Topuria replied to Rogan.
“Oh, I agree,” Rogan said. ” I definitely think they should fight.
“I think Khabib doesn’t like that idea,” Rogan admitted.
