'Big Mouth!' 'Coward!' Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev Trade Brutal Insults On Social Media

In a fiery social media exchange, UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has responded to Ilia Topuria’s recent callouts with a brutal reality check. Makhachev, who has dominated the 155-pound division, didn’t hold back as he dismissed Topuria’s aspirations of moving up in weight, accusing the featherweight champ of ducking tough competition in his own division before eyeing a bigger challenge.

The Dagestani champion took aim at Topuria’s resume in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Difference between me and you [is] that I cleaned top list in my division, moved to [the] next, but you ran away from two contenders who had consecutive 5-9 wins in [the featherweight] division."

His words possibly reference top featherweight contenders like Movsar Evloev and Jean Silva, both of whom are on impressive, undefeated runs in the UFC.

Makhachev didn’t stop there, mocking Topuria’s lack of standing in the lightweight division.

"You are nobody in [lightweight], just a big mouth from Spain with a nice haircut," he shot back.

The jab not only targeted Topuria’s undefeated record but also his flashy persona, which has helped him gain a massive following.

The former lightweight king then issued a blunt challenge to Topuria: "Go get one W [at lightweight], and we can talk, boy."

Topuria, who will be facing Charles Oliveira for the soon-to-be vacant lightweight title, fired back at Makhachev, posting, “The difference between you and me is that I am a man and you are a coward. I speak and fight. You talk and hide. Run away far, leaving no trace.”

He then punctuated the tweet with a brutal jab in Makhachev’s native Russian, which translates to, “You are a little boy.”

For now, it seems Makhachev has no interest in entertaining Topuria unless he backs up his talk with a win at his new division.

If Topuria defeats Oliveira, however, he could push for a future superfight between two double champions if Makhachev succeeds at welterweight. But for now, the war of words continues, and neither fighter is backing down.