Khabib Explains Islam’s ‘Reluctance’ To Fight Topuria

Khabib Nurmagomedov has responded to the increasing pressure for Islam Makhachev to face Ilia Topuria.

The fight has been talked up ever since Ilia moved up from featherweight. He vacated his belt after stopping Max Holloway at UFC 308 with the hope of becoming a two-weight champion. Topuria has backed himself to deliver, saying he will become the first person to submit Islam. He even said he would do it in front of Khabib, who currently trains Islam.

Makhachev has his own ambitions of becoming a two-weight world champion. He has been linked with a move up to welterweight and middleweight after submitting Renato Moicano in his last fight at UFC 311. Islam has already beaten one of the best featherweights, Alexander Volkanovski, on two occasions when the Australian moved up. Islam has also stated that he has given smaller fighters enough of a chance. 

Islam’s Options

There are many contenders in the lightweight division, who have a claim to fight Islam. Charles Oliveira has been chasing a rematch after Islam beat him in their first fight. He is coming off a unanimous decision win over Michael Chandler at UFC 309. Paddy Pimblett is also a contender, having stopped Chandler in his last fight at UFC 314. That was Pimblett’s biggest win, taking his record to 7-0. The performance won him plaudits from Islam’s team. Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, has said Paddy deserves a shot. 

“Paddy’s ready to face anybody. What he’s done already, his credentials, his winning record in the UFC — and his hype, what he can do, how he can motivate people — if they give him the next title shot, he deserves it. … Is he worthy? Yes. He’s very interesting, and he’s got all of England behind him. … I’m a fan,” Mendez said

Makhachev vs. Topuria

Justin Gaethje is also another name on the table. He has called for an Islam fight in June during International Fight Week. Gaethje lost his BMF belt to Max Holloway, who stopped him with a second left in the fight at UFC 300. Gaethje bounced back from that loss by beating Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in his last fight. Those names above could be ahead of Topuria in light of Khabib’s following comments. 

“Topuria is a good fighter at 145 but we haven’t seen him at 155. I believe Arman is more competitive for Islam than Topuria. “I don’t know what kind of agreements Topuria and the UFC had, but from Islam’s side, he already gave two title shots to 145 champions. Both times Islam won.

“Now a third time — OK, let’s imagine Topuria moves up and gets a title shot right away, Islam beats him, then Topuria fights again, he loses again. So basically [a] nobody at 155.Islam beat a guy who was a nobody at 155. Because of that, in terms of legacy for Islam, for his resume, I understand Islam’s risks, too. That’s why Islam says let him fight, let him become a real contender,” Khabib said