Ilia Topuria hits pause on Islam Makhachev feud to offer rare praise for rival

Makhachev had claimed Topuria priced himself out of their planned bout in Washington D.C. on June 14, but Dana White pushed back on that narrative.

Topuria, for his part, has said he agreed to the fight and accused Makhachev of backing out due to an injury.

The two fighters have traded words over the past year, with Topuria even calling Makhachev a “coward” for leaving lightweight just as he was planning his move up from featherweight.

Despite the friction, Topuria hasn’t lost sight of what makes Makhachev one of the top names in MMA.

“I want to test myself against someone who has dominated his division for so long because he was champion in the division where I am,” Topuria said during a recent appearance on El Hormiguero.

“What better than to measure myself against someone who has the record he has? I see it purely from a sporting point of view.

“I consider Islam a talent, someone with real skills inside the Octagon,” he continued. “Putting that on display with mine could create a very, very interesting fight for everyone.”

The bout between Topuria and Makhachev is still far from confirmed, but there’s clear interest from both sides. And for Topuria, there’s more than just pride on the line — he’s eyeing history.