UFC champion slams Islam Makhachev for avoiding fight with Ilia Topuria

Islam makhachev is the UFC lightweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC India

Even though he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC today, Islam makhachev has possible adversaries for the future. The resistance to accepting a fight with Ilia Topuria has generated a lot of criticism from various sports personalities, such as Merab Dvalishvili, for example. The current bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg) came out publicly via a video on social media to question the Russian's attitude, in addition to citing his own example as the belt holder.

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Merab thinks Islam makhachev needs to fight Ilia Topuria next:

“Islam told me at the press conference 'Merab I respect you but when you have a top contender you should fight him', and I said okay…

Now he has a top contender as Ilia Topuria but he's not fighting him…

Nobody… pic.twitter.com/jRaghPkkRi

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 8, 2025

“Islam told me at the press conference, ‘Merab, I respect you, but when you have a big competitor, you have to fight him,’ and I said okay… Now he has a big competitor like Ilia Topuria, but he is not fighting against it… No one has criticized Islam like they criticized me,” said the Georgian.

Ilia Topuria is a former featherweight champion (Photo / Reproduction Instagram UFC)

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Makhachev and Merab have already provoked each other

Islam makhachev derrotou Renato Moicano No. UFC 311. Photo: Instagram/UFC Espanol

The moment Dvalishvili referred to happened during the press conference before the UFC 311, in January of this year. Amidst exchanges of barbs between Merab and Umar Nurmagomedov, Makhachev's training partner, the lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg.) criticized the fighter for preferring a rematch with Sean O'Malley instead of a fight with the Russian.

The Georgian managed to beat Umar by unanimous decision, while Makhachev defeated Renato Moicano by submission in the first round with an arm triangle. Since then, Ilia Topuria announced the climb for the lightweight category and a fight with the Russian is expected. However, several members of the Dagestan Clan have already shown themselves to be against the duel at the moment, including the Russian himself. Khabib Nurmagomedov.