To be honest, it’s been a long time. How do you handle medicine? Are you still taking steroids? https://t.co/Da50uyFXoL
— Ilia Topria (@Topurialia)
October 3, 2024
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion Ilya Topria is fighting hard for a double title with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Topria (15-0) has been exchanging words with Makhachev (26-1) and his team recently. The feud began with a Q&A session, with Topria stating that he intends to defeat Makhachev in a street fight, but wants to do it inside the Octagon to avoid paying Dagestan’s medical bills. Makhachev’s teammate, Usman Nurmagomedov, fired back at Topria for criticizing the Bellator MMA lightweight champion’s recent failed drug test. Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Tagir Ulanbekov of the Dagestan team also spoke out to protect their teammates.
In an interview with Match TV, Makhachev warned Topria about crossing personal boundaries, but the Georgian-Spanish admitted he had not yet crossed any boundaries. Meanwhile, Topuria is scheduled to make his first title defense against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 on October 26th at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev advised “El Matador” to defend the title at least once before planning to become a double champion.
“If Topria continues with the same spirit, he may show himself,” Makhachev said. “Something could happen. So far I haven’t seen anyone cross personal boundaries and nothing like that has happened so far. I need to focus on defending the belt at least once.”
Topria reacted quickly, urging Makhachev to remove his teammate from contention. Topuria called on the King of UFC P4P to resolve the feud like an adult inside the Octagon at next year’s X.
“You don’t have to cross a line, but the kids playing with you seem to be trying to cross a line of no return. Let’s get them out of there and let’s figure it out inside the Octagon like adults.” [in] 2025. ”
Topuria won the featherweight title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February, marking his fifth finish in seven UFC wins. Meanwhile, Makhachev is set to successfully defend his title for the third time with a five-round submission against Dustin Poirier at UFC 303 in June. The Dagestani standout was recovering from a hand injury sustained against Poirier. The fight was his toughest test since suffering his only professional loss to Adriano Martins in his UFC debut in 2015.
👀 Islam Makhachev reacted to Ilya Topria’s recent claims.
“If Topria continues to have the same spirit, he may come into his own. Something may happen. So far, I have not seen anyone cross personal boundaries. , so far nothing like that has happened.
He needs to focus on himself… pic.twitter.com/GwZz4D0uT2
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight)
October 7, 2024
