The prospect of Ilia Topuria facing off against Islam Makhachev is the fight that every fan wants to see in 2025, and it’s not far from becoming a reality. According to Ariel Helwani, a well-respected journalist in the world of contact sports, the plan is for Topuria to fight Makhachev either at the end of this year or as soon as International Fight Week begins on June 29. This news comes after Topuria, known as “The Matador,” vacated his title in the featherweight division and moved up to lightweight, seeking more glory and an opportunity to compete against the “big boys.”
It’s worth noting that this fight has been on the table for some time, ever since Topuria’s impressive victory over Max Holloway, which left him without a clear challenger in the featherweight division. As Helwani mentioned, “I have been told that the plan is that Topuria fights against Makhachev at the end of this year. Or maybe as soon as the International Fight Week begins.” This confirmation suggests that the UFC has been considering this matchup for a while, and an official announcement is expected soon.
For now, the UFC has announced several upcoming fights, including those at UFC London, UFC 314, and UFC 315, but the Topuria vs. Makhachev fight is still pending. As Dana White and the UFC offices in Las Vegas decide on the timing, fans will have to wait patiently for the official confirmation. The equation is simple: Topuria wants gold, and he’s willing to face the best in the lightweight division to get it.
Makhachev Opposes the Fight
However, it seems that Makhachev is not keen on facing Topuria just yet. The Daghestani fighter has expressed his intention to become a double champion and believes that Topuria hasn’t justified his challenge. Makhachev’s team has reacted to Topuria’s move to lightweight, stating that he needs to prove himself against top contenders like Dustin or Charles before facing the current champion. As Rizvan Magomedov, one of Makhachev’s agents, wrote on social media, “Topuria should fight against Dustin/Charles, to show that he is a legitimate lightweight.”
Despite this, Topuria is determined to fight for the title, either against Makhachev or Charles Oliveira, should Makhachev decide to vacate his title and move up to welterweight. The prospect of these two fighters facing off is exciting, as it would pit two of the best fighters in the world against each other in their prime. This could lead to a fight that would be remembered as one of the greatest in the history of mixed martial arts. As the situation unfolds, fans will be eagerly waiting to see what happens next with these two fighting superstars.