There can still be a world where we ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev get to see.
For the time being, the ship sailed on the massive UFC-Superge fight, because confirmed lightweight Islam Makhachev champion on the Welterweight King Jack della Maddalena.
Just like Makhachev, Ilia Topuria has renounced his featherweight title earlier this year in the pursuit of a second belt. Topuria will challenge on 28 June for the empty lightweight title against Charles Oliveira on UFC 317.
Although Makhachev and Topuria have gone their own way, a former UFC star believes that they can set up an even bigger fight.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Muhammad Mokaev says that Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria more hype will have a catch
Instead of making Makhachev defend the lightweight title against Topuria, unbeaten UFC -Ballingschap Muhammad Mokaev suggests that the stars cross the paths after the title wins to remove doubt about how good they are.
“Islam fights Ilia, and he hits him. People [will] Suppose he defeated a 145er, “said Mokaev on the YouTube channel of Chael Sonnen.
“But Islam wins the title in Welterweight, and then Ilia beats Oliveira. That is an even bigger fight to create.
“I think it creates a bigger name for them,” Mokaev explained.
“In this way [is] Better, instead of fighting Islam against Topuria and slows the hype.
“I prefer that Islam becomes a champion, Ilia Topuria becomes a champion and they can fight at catch weight because I don't know what they want …”
There is a weight difference of 15 pounds between the lightweight and welterweight divisions with 160 or 165 pounds probably the meeting place for a fight as large as this one.
Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev would be the largest UFC fight since Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Above that with Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall as the most expected fight of the year, UFC fans screamed for a lightweight title fight between Topuria and Makhachev.
It is impossible to say how many pay-per-views the superfight would sell, given the unparalleled momentum Topuria and Makhachev for them with a 31-Fecht combined win-streak.
Makhachev is currently the #1 pound-for-pound hunter of the UFC on the planet with Topuria just behind him at #3.
If Belal Muhammad Jack della Maddalena had defeated UFC 315, we would make Makhachev vs. Have seen Topuria at lightweight in what would have been the most massive fight since Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor at UFC 229, which broke the record of the pay-per-view in 2018.