Ilia Topuria expressed his frustration towards Islam Makhachev for choosing to move up to welterweight instead of facing him in the octagon.
Prior to relinquishing his UFC lightweight title, Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) dismissed Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) as a potential challenger, citing his preference to not defend his belt against another fighter moving up a weight class after facing Alexander Volkanovski.
Makhachev’s long-standing goal of becoming a two-division UFC champion was put on hold due to his friend Belal Muhammad holding the welterweight title. However, with Muhammad losing the belt to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, Makhachev decided to vacate his lightweight title and challenge Della Maddalena for the welterweight championship.
Topuria, who is set to face Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317, criticized Makhachev for making a similar move to him.
“(Islam) is the biggest hypocrite I’ve ever seen,” Topuria stated during a recent press conference. “He criticized my decision to challenge him for the title, but now he is seeking the same opportunity. It’s a clear case of hypocrisy.”
Topuria believed that Makhachev never truly intended to face him in the octagon.
“Ali (Abdelaziz) should be grateful that I didn’t defeat his prized fighter,” Topuria remarked. “The fight everyone wanted to see was between us, but they avoided it from the start.”
While Abdelaziz claimed that a fight between Makhachev and Topuria would have been next if Muhammad had retained his title, Topuria dismissed the statement as false.
“They are dishonest,” Topuria emphasized. “That’s not the truth. I don’t want to engage with fighters who are not willing to face me.”
Regarding the possibility of moving up to welterweight to challenge Makhachev, Topuria expressed his lack of interest in pursuing a fighter who evades confrontation.