TLDR
- Topuria admits Makhachev has advantages in height (5’10” vs 5’7″) and weight
- Their planned fight for UFC Freedom 250 collapsed before official announcement
- Topuria praised Makhachev’s talent and skills inside the Octagon
- Topuria would be moving up two weight classes to face Makhachev at welterweight
- Topuria expects to make the fight happen by the end of the year
Sources: sports.yahoo.com
Ilia Topuria has praised Islam Makhachev’s abilities while admitting the Dagestani fighter has clear physical advantages over him. The UFC featherweight champion spoke about their potential matchup during an appearance on Spanish TV show El Hormiguero last Thursday.
The two fighters have been trading words on social media in recent weeks. Their camps have also exchanged accusations as tension builds between the two sides.
A planned fight between Topuria and Makhachev for UFC Freedom 250 reportedly fell apart just before its official announcement. The last-minute collapse became a major talking point among MMA fans.
Joe Rogan: "Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev would be an insane fight at 155" 👀🔥
"Ilia is another animal… he's on another level. He's super well-rounded and people haven't really even seen that yet. There's a documentary on YouTube where they're talking about how they break… pic.twitter.com/Ej7SxWzi65
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 10, 2026
Topuria Acknowledges Physical Disadvantages
Topuria was direct about the challenges he would face against Makhachev. “Sports-wise it’s an advantage, obviously,” he said on the Spanish television program.
“A guy who has more weight, who has more stature and everything, it’s an advantage,” Topuria explained. “But at this point, what does it matter?”
The height difference between the two fighters is clear. Topuria stands at 5 foot 7 while Makhachev is 5 foot 10, giving the Dagestani a three-inch advantage.
Weight is another factor in the potential matchup. Topuria started his UFC career at featherweight and would be moving up two divisions to face Makhachev at welterweight.
Makhachev has already made the transition from lightweight to welterweight without major difficulty. This gives him more experience fighting at the higher weight class.
Interest Remains High Despite Obstacles
Despite recognizing these disadvantages, Topuria expressed strong interest in the fight. “It’s a fight that generates interest, the fans want to see it,” he said.
Topuria called it “a fight that even I have an interest in, to fight a guy who has dominated the division for so long.” He views facing an accomplished opponent as an appealing challenge.
The Spanish-Georgian fighter praised Makhachev’s record and abilities. “What better than to fight a person who has all the curriculum that he has?” Topuria asked.
He described Makhachev as talented and skilled inside the Octagon. “I see it sport-wise, I consider him a talent, I consider him a person who has some skills within the Octagon,” Topuria said.
Topuria believes combining their different skill sets would create compelling action. “To put them together with mine, it could become a very, very interesting fight for everyone,” he explained.
The featherweight champion indicated he wants to make the fight happen by the end of the year. Both fighters remain linked in fan discussions despite the collapsed UFC Freedom 250 bout.
Topuria’s willingness to move up two weight classes shows his confidence in his abilities. The challenge of facing a larger, experienced champion at welterweight would be the biggest test of his career.
