Topuria confident he’ll make Makhachev earn his way back to lightweight title

Ilia Topuria has no intention of doing Islam Makhachev any favors if the Dagestani ever decides to return to lightweight.

With a chance to win the vacant belt against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, Topuria is excited to add another title to his legacy ; even if he doesn’t win the fight with Makhachev, which he wanted. Instead, Makhachev is moving up to welterweight to challenge new champion Jack Della Maddalena later this year, although he has hinted that he might one day return to lightweight to reclaim the title.

But just as Makhachev showed no interest in fighting Topuria when the latter moved from featherweight to lightweight, “El Matador” is now retaliating. He’s telling the UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighter that he’ll have to earn his way back to the title if he ever returns to lightweight.

- You know, from the beginning he wanted to give the impression that he was making some decisions. He also said about a week ago: ‘My move to welterweight will mean nothing because I have no plans to give up my belt.’ You remember that, right? And I already said before that that I did not move to lightweight to beg anyone and that I am the one who dictates the rules, - Topuria stated.

- So who got what he wanted, who did what he said? As always, him or me? After this fight, when I have the belt, let him get in line. And the line is long, and someone will have a twinkle in their eye, - added the Spaniard.

Makhachev and the lightweight belt

It is true that Makhachev said that he would not give up the lightweight belt even if he moved to welterweight, but that did not happen. Just as Topuria had to give up the featherweight belt after moving to lightweight, so did Makhachev.

Therefore, none of them will have the opportunity to become the simultaneous champion of two categories (''champ-champ''), but Topuria made it clear that his future is tied exclusively to the lightweight category, after heavy weight loss up to 66 kg.

The fights between Topuria and Makhachev have further escalated in recent days, but they will not meet in the cage anytime soon, and the question is whether we will ever see that fight.