Ilia Topuria, set to fight for the UFC lightweight title, insists that if Islam Makhachev returns to lightweight after moving to welterweight, he must earn a title shot rather than receiving it automatically.
Ilia Topuria isn’t about to make life easy for Islam Makhachev if he ever considers a return to the UFC lightweight division. With a shot at the vacant 155-pound title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, Topuria is eager to add another championship to his name. Although he didn’t get the matchup with Makhachev he wanted, he’s still excited.
Makhachev, on the other hand, is moving up to welterweight to challenge the new champion, Jack Della Maddalena, later this year. He’s hinted at possibly returning to lightweight someday to reclaim his title. But Topuria, much like Makhachev showed little interest in facing him when he moved up from featherweight, is giving him the cold shoulder. “El Matador” insists Makhachev will have to earn his way back to a title shot if he ever returns to lightweight.
“You know from the beginning, he wanted to give the impression that he had some sort of decision,” Topuria stated during a press conference. He recalled Makhachev saying, “My move up to welterweight isn’t going to matter because I’m not planning on vacating my title.” Topuria made it clear: he didn’t move up to lightweight to ask anyone for anything.
“So who got their way, who did what they said? As always, him or me?” Topuria questioned. “After this fight, when I have the belt, he can get in line, which is a long one.” His confidence is palpable.
Makhachev had claimed he wouldn’t vacate his lightweight title even if he moved up to welterweight, but reality had other plans. Like Topuria, who left his featherweight title behind, Makhachev had to relinquish his lightweight title to chase a second belt in the welterweight division.
Neither fighter can become a “champ-champ” right now, but Topuria is clear that his future is set at lightweight. Those grueling weight cuts to 145 pounds are a thing of the past for him.
Perhaps Makhachev has a different perspective on returning to lightweight, but Topuria seems ready to challenge him to earn his way back. The back-and-forth between these two fighters has intensified recently, yet their paths won’t cross next. Who knows if this clash will ever happen?