Ilia Topuria Gives Credit to Islam Makhachev’s Fighting Skills

Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev (Photo by Getty Images)

Ilia Topuria Gives Credit to Islam Makhachev’s Fighting Skills

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated May 6, 2026 4:38 AM ET

Ilia Topuria has never been short on ambition. But the way he’s talking about Islam Makhachev suggests this isn’t just ambition, it’s genuine curiosity about where his ceiling sits. The featherweight champion addressed the possibility of a fight with Makhachev directly,

The way he spoke about it showed how he sees the sport. There was no trash talk, fake beef, or attempts to put the other fighter down. He simply saw the welterweight champ Makhachev as the kind of challenge that tells a fighter something real about himself.

“Why not test my skills against someone like Islam? He’s a very skillful fighter. I respect him as a fighter. He dominated the whole division, he fought for the titles, so what better than testing yourself against someone like him?” Topuria said.

Ilia Topuria gives respect to Islam Makhachev’s abilities inside the cage

"Why not test my skills against someone like Islam? He’s a very skillful fighter. I respect him as a fighter. He dominated the whole division, he fought for the titles, so what better than testing… pic.twitter.com/RkU6IwGL5D
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) May 6, 2026

It is a mature mindset from a 29-year-old champion. Topuria is looking toward bigger challenges and asking why not fight the man who became a two-division champion. Topuria beating Makhachev would rewrite the conversation around who the best fighter on the planet is. That’s the scale of what he’s pointing at. However, for now, he is ready to take on Justin Gaethje.

Ilia Topuria Expects First-Round Finish Against Justin Gaethje

After beating Paddy Pimblett, Gaethje now holds the interim lightweight title. Meanwhile, the Georgian champion has made his feelings about that fight very clear. In a recent interview with Bokamato ESPN, ‘El Matador’ didn’t leave much room for interpretation when asked about Gaethje’s chances of going the distance.

“I don’t really think that he’s gonna be able to last for more than a round,” Topuria said.

Ilia Topuria doubts that Justin Gaethje will make it past one round

"I don't really think that he's gonna be able to last for more than a round."

via: @bokamotoESPN pic.twitter.com/ad0xzdPvgw
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) May 5, 2026

Gaethje has been finished before, but he has also walked through damage that would have stopped most fighters and kept throwing back. Calling a first-round finish over him is far from a safe prediction. It also shows just how high Ilia Topuria’s confidence is right now.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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