Ilia Topuria recently sent a bold message while discussing a potential clash with Islam Makhachev. Topuria said he would dominate the fight on the feet and then submit Makhachev on the ground.
‘El Matador’ won the lightweight championship after Makhachev vacated the title. He has never hidden his confidence. The two UFC champions have traded words on social media and in interviews, with both claiming they would win decisively.
The fighters were linked to a matchup before the Dagestani moved up to welterweight and won a second UFC title. During an interview with eldoberdanMMA, Topuria shared how he believes a fight between them would unfold.
While many view his striking as his best skill, Topuria said that his grappling is stronger. He explained that he would break Makhachev down with punches and then submit him on the ground.
Topuria also said he wants to finish Makhachev in front of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I consider my strongest point to be the ground, but lately I’ve accepted that it is not what the public want to see, although with Islam [Makhachev] perhaps it is something that the public wants to see,” Topuria said [translated].
He added:
“To dominate him standing up, to give him three or four punches in the spot where I have to hit him, and then to submit there in the corner him in front of Khabib [Nurmagomedov], who are so cocky and arrogant that I would really love to submit [Makhachev] in front of him.”
Topuria also warned Nurmagomedov that he would face the same outcome if he tried to avenge Makhachev.
“If [Nurmagomedov] wants to pass, I’ll gladly step on his head too.”
Ilia Topuria Says He is More Dangerous Than Any Opponent Islam Makhachev Faced
Ilia Topuria also claimed he is more dangerous than anyone Islam Makhachev has faced. The Dagestani recently earned a dominant unanimous decision over Jack Della Maddalena to become the welterweight champion.
Speaking with eldoberdanMMA, Topuria criticized Makhachev and his team for dismissing him as a serious challenger. He added that he has always been willing to fight him and believes the Dagestani has avoided him.
“Everyone knows it’s a fight everyone wants to see, and for some reason he hasn’t accepted, and then he talks too much. It’s very easy to talk from thousands of kilometers away and criticize me,” Topuria said. “When you have me in that octagon, you start to realize that I’m not Jack Della Maddalena, that I’m not Dan Hooker, that I’m not all those guys that you faced.”
He continued:
“I’m something different, and when I put my right hand on you, you’ll see that you’re going to have a very, very long sleep.”
Makhachev vs. Topuria Unlikely to Happen Soon
Despite Topuria’s confidence, a fight with Makhachev doesn’t appear likely in the near future.
Topuria is taking time away from competition to handle personal matters. When he returns, he is expected to face the winner of Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett. That fight headlines UFC 324 next month and will contested for the interim lightweight championship.
Meanwhile, Makhachev plans to remain at welterweight permanently. He wants to defend his title against Kamaru Usman. Because of this, a potential fight with Topuria will likely have to wait.
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