Ilia Topuria raises his voice when responding to Khabib Nurmagomedov: 'you know I'm going to get the belt'

Ilia Topuria left the featherweight belt in search of the lightweight belt, but Islam does not want the fight. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

The exchange of barbs in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg) generates repercussions and surveys, but does not result in a fight for the belt being scheduled. After Khabib Nurmagomedov rule out the possibility of the newcomer Ilia Topuria be received by his pupil, Islam makhachev, the Spaniard embarked on the 'hype' to provoke the UFC legend.

See too

Khabib dismisses Topuria's chances of facing Makhachev next and demands real challenges from his pupil

Islam Makhachev's coach surprises by naming possible new challenger: 'He deserves it'

The whole mess started with statements from Nurmagomedov to Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev about the Georgian-Spanish fighter's expectation of fighting for the lightweight belt after having given up the featherweight title (up to 65,7 kg). More than denying the fight, Khabib indicated the ideal match for the Russian.

“Arman (Tsarukyan) is a more serious challenge than Topuria. Topuria is good at 66kg, but we haven’t seen him at 70. Let’s say Topuria gets the title shot right away, Islam wins and then he loses another one. Islam will have beaten a nobody at 70kg. Islam doesn’t have much time, he’s about to turn 34, he doesn’t want to fight someone like Topuria, Volkanovski or Moicano anymore, coming in at the last minute,” Khabib said in an interview.