Former UFC Feedweight Champion Ilia Topuria is not short of enemies.
This year Topuria and Islam Makhachev Furious have shown words in the midst of their growing rivalry.
The hostility stems from the respective weight movements of the couple, set with 'El Matador' to enter the lightweight shark tank and leave the Dagestani his title to pursue the goodweight gold.
Topuria accused Makhachev of 'running away' in response to a word war on social media.
According to a former UFC title -but there is only one “real” rivalry in MMA -and it is not Topuria and Makhachev's.
The difference between you and me is that I am a man and that you are a coward. I speak and fight. You talk and hide. Run far away and leave no trace. I ыален ago пацан. https://t.co/kduhdib8t
– Ilia Topuria (@topuriailia) 15 May 2025
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Chael Sonnen sees Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett as a real rivalry
In a recent YouTube video, UFC legend Chael Sonnen paid attention to one of the laces of the former featherweight champion.
Before a problem came forward with Makhachev, Topuria did not see an eye to Paddy Pimblett.
And even while their paths have been separated in recent years, the couple often took the opportunity to take up to each other.
Pimblett recently traced the UFC record of Topuria. Sonnen took knowledge of the comments and suggested that the soon lightweight colleagues share the only real rivalry in the promotion and sport as a whole.
“Boy, Paddy went pretty hard to Ilia Topuria. He asked every fight he did,” said Sonnen.
“Wherever you fall, I think that MMA can at least see that MMA has a real rivalry, and there are just not many of them.
“If that resentment and that rivalry still maintains, then this is the first in a meaningful period and the only current rivalry we have in this sport.”
Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria had a heated fight before the UFC London event
The hostility of Topuria and Pimblett reached a fever to London when you visit the UFC in March 2022.
Both men were shown on the map and remained unbeaten in the Octagon, with 'El Matador' a highlight knockout by Jai Herbert and 'The Baddy' who submitted Jordan Leavitt.
But before Fight Night, the couple did not have their full focus on their opposition.
Instead, Fight Week almost saw Topuria and Pimblett fighting in the Fighter Hotel. During the exchange, the scouser launched a bottle of hand disinfecting agent at the Georgian-Spaniard.
Pimblett has since referred to Topuria as 'Hand Sanitizer Boy', a term that would undoubtedly often come to a potential fight between the couple along the line.
The chances that it flourished recently took a boost after confirmation that 'El Matador' will leave the featherweight division.
Topuria will fight against Charles Oliveira on 28 June in the main event of UFC 317 for the empty lightweight title.
Pimblett is now without his next assignment on the calendar after dominating Michael Chandler on UFC 314 in Miami.