![Ilia Topuria has expressed interest in fighting Islam Makhachev [Image Courtesy:@iliatopuria and @islam_makhachev on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/c39dd-17361780788033-1920.jpg)
![Ilia Topuria has expressed interest in fighting Islam Makhachev [Image Courtesy:@iliatopuria and @islam_makhachev on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ilia Topuria has been a sensation ever since he made his UFC debut in 2020. The Spaniard has been on a demolition path, finishing six out of his eight opponents in the octagon. Topuria's last outing in October saw him becoming the first person to knock out Max Holloway at UFC 308.
Now, 'El Matador' has expressed his desire to move to lightweight and fight the reigning champion Islam Makhachev. In a recent post on X, Topuria said his next move won't involve vacating the featherweight title. He wrote:
"I will not leave the title vacant. The decision to move up to the next category is entirely mine. I haven't had any conversations with the UFC yet, so everything is still to be decided. Stop celebrating because I’m not going anywhere. I have conquered my division and I will do the same in the next one."
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In a recent post by MMA Orbit on X, predictions were asked from the fans on whether Topuria would fight Makhachev in 2025.
One fan wrote:
"Not unless he wants to lose his 0"
Here are the other fan reactions:
"Highly doubt it. I could see it happening in 2026, though."
"If he beats charles than for sure Islam vs ilia would be a exciting fight."
Check out the collage of fan reactions to the post below:
Ilia Topuria's win against Alexander Volkanovski left Merab Dvalishvili surprised
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili recently revealed Ilia Topuria's win against former champion Alexander Volkanovski left him surprised. Topuria, who was on a tear in 2024, knocked out former champions Volkanovski and Max Holloway in brutal fashion.
Dvalishvili, who is a close friend and training partner of Topuria, made an appearance on the Verse Us with Eric Nicksick podcast. The Georgian said:
"Holloway, no! I was more surprised with Volkanovski. But after Volkanovski, against Holloway, no! Because he also believed [in] himself and he's really... put a lot of work in."
Check out Merab Dvalishvili's comments below (57:02):
