"Nobody criticized Islam Makhachev” - Merab Dvalishvili puts the UFC lightweight champion on blast for avoiding Ilia Topuria

Reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has come under fire from Merab Dvalishvili for rejecting a fight with Ilia Topuria. Dvalishvili urged Makhachev to face Topuria, citing the moment when the reigning bantamweight was chastised for refusing to take on then-leading contender Umar Nurmagomedov.

Topuria vacated his featherweight belt earlier this year to pursue a second title. He voiced his wish to challenge Makahchev on several occasions, however, the Dagestani's team reportedly dismissed the fight claims, citing that Topuria was unworthy. According to the 33-year-old, Topuria must defeat a top contender to get a title shot.

During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Dvalishvili reacted to Makahchev's antics, calling him out for denying Topuria a title opportunity (via Championship Rounds' X post):

''Ilia has to fight Islam Makhachev, especially since he vacated his featherweight belt and is no longer at 145. He’s the most deserving contender for the 155 title. But somehow, Islam Makhachev is ignoring him. I’m sure everyone remembers that Islam once told me just one thing at a press conference: ‘Merab, I respect you, but when you have a top contender, you should fight him.’ And I said, ‘Okay, I’m fighting.’ But now that he has a top contender in Ilia Topuria, he’s not fighting him.''

'The Machine' continued:

''He’s saying other things instead. We all agree that Ilia deserves this fight more than anyone, and hopefully, it happens. Nobody criticized Islam like they criticized me.”

Check out Merab Dvalishvili's comments below:

Dvalishvili stated that Makhachev and many in the MMA community were after him when he dismissed Nurmagomedov prior to UFC 311. However, the Georgian eventually defeated the 29-year-old to make his first title defense.

Makhachev made his fourth title defense by submitting Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC 311. Meanwhile, in his last octagon MMA outing at UFC 308 last year, Topuria knocked out Max Holloway in the third round.

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Djibril Dulatov shares update on Islam Makhachev's next opponent

An X user named @realkevink recently posted an interview clip of Djibril Dulatov where the latter discussed Islam Dulatov's UFC debut. Djibril revealed that the 26-year-old will feature on the same card as Islam Makhachev during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

Djibril further stated that Makhachev's opponent would be a UFC champion from a lower division. The post caption read:

''Djibril Dulatov Says Islam Dulatov will be Fighting on the Same card as Islam Makhachev in June in Las Vegas. In conversation they mention Islam's opponent to be a champion in another category [weight class] and he was a title holder. Topuria vs. Makhachev IFW?''

Check out Djibril Dulatov's comments below: