The team of Islam Makhachev is now open to the idea of fighting Ilia Topuria, just a few months after Makhachev has left the lightweight belt.
Islam Makhachev shocked the MMA world when he announced that he left his UFC light weight title for a switch to Welterweight. Makhachev sounded his decision only a few hours after his friend and teammate, Belal Muhammad, the UFC Welterweight Belt lost to Jack della Maddalena on UFC 315.
When Makhachev chose to leave the UFC Lightweight Championship, he ran away from a potential confrontation with Ilia Topuria. Topuria then went out one of Makhachev's former enemies, Charles Oliveira, on UFC 317.
Makhachev and his team have repeatedly rejected a collision with Topuria and claim that Topuria still has a lot to prove before he earns a fight with the now Formator UFC Lightweight Champ. After the recent knockout from Topuria, the internet almost broke, the fight is back in the mix.
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Coach Javier Mendez Touts Perfect Timing for Ilia Topuria Fight for Islam Makhachev
In December Makhachev's old coach Javier Mendez concluded the interest in fighting Topuria while the then UFC Vederweight Champion teased a switch to lightweight. But Mendez has changed his number since then, especially after Topuria had earned the first place in the pound-for-pound rankings of the UFC.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Mendez was asked to visit a confrontation with Topuria.
“It is the number one fight. The other was Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, but at the moment, if Islam wins, it is a fight to make Topuria vs. Islam. I like it what [Ilia] Did it, “said Mendez.
“He is doing well to give people the fight. The more Ilia does, the more people want to see this fight. I love everything he does as a hunter.
“He is very strong and doesn't care about the weight.”
Mendez then explained why the timing is perfect for a potential Makhachev vs. Topuria Super Fight.
“I think it's a great fight for us now. The first thing Islam wanted was an inheritance fight, he wanted the goodweight title,” Mendez explained.
“If we now win the goodweight title, we can go down if he can come up. That is what I say, but it doesn't happen if the UFC doesn't like it. But we have to win first.”
Makhachev and Maddalena are expected to fight later this year, although the UFC has not made a formal announcement with regard to the competition. Makhachev has repeatedly argued at the UFC to combat Maddalena at a historic location, and after the recent comments from Khabib Nurmagomedov it sounds as if his wish will be granted.
Islam Makhachev is given MSG Wens after Khabib Nurmagomedov leaked his next fight
Nurmagomedov 'recently' leaked 'that Makhachev vs. Maddalena in November UFC 322 will head in Madison Square Garden. From this letter, the promotion has not announced the battle for the annual pay-per-view card in New York City.
Maddalena initially wanted the Makhachev fight in Australia, before the manager of Makhachev publicly made his request. If Makhachev is successful in beating Maddalena, he becomes the newest two-division champion in UFC history.
The fight of Makhachev vs. Maddalena contributes to a stacked tail end until 2025. UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall Headlines UFC 321 opposite Ciryl Gane, while Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2 Headlines UFC 320.
Although nothing is official, an announcement from Makhachev vs. Maddalena in the coming weeks.