Islam Makhachev Wants Ilia Topuria to Earn Lightweight Title Shot

It appears that Ilia Topuria won’t be fighting for the lightweight championship—at least not right away. Islam Makhachev believes Topuria needs to earn his shot at the lightweight championship, fighting at 155 lbs at least once. Makhachev has reportedly declined the fight, or rather, he didn’t agree to face Topuria next, although it appears the bout was at least offered.

Does The Fight Make Sense?

Ilia Topuria recently announce that he’s moving up to lightweight and vacating his featherweight title. He had hoped for an immediate shot at Islam Makhachev, believing his dominance at 145 lbs warranted the opportunity. From his perspective, it’s a fair argument—he’s undefeated, and becoming a two-division champion would cement his legacy.

The fight makes sense for Ilia. But from Makhachev’s standpoint, accepting this fight doesn’t make much sense. His title reign has already been scrutinized. For both fighting late replacements without a full camp, and featuring two defenses against Alexander Volkanovski, another featherweight moving up. If more than half of his defenses come against smaller fighters transitioning to lightweight, critics will continue questioning his legacy.

This isn’t about Islam “ducking” Ilia or being afraid—it’s about logic. Makhachev himself had aspirations of moving up in weight to challenge for another title. But even after three title defenses, some questioned whether his resume was strong enough to justify that move. Beating another former featherweight champion wouldn’t strengthen his case.

If Topuria earns a title shot after just one defense, Islam wouldn’t be on board with it. So, it’s understandable why Islam wants Ilia to prove himself at 155 lbs first. That said, fans are eager for this fight because it would be a spectacle. Even Chael Sonnen has pointed out that Islam vs. Ilia would be a massive draw.

So, what do you think? Should Topuria have to earn his shot, or has he already done enough to deserve an immediate title fight? Let us know below!

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About Post Author

Connor Rogowsky

Connor “Rags” Rogowsky is a Co-Founder of The Scrap, where he contributes MMA content and occasionally delves into the world of pro wrestling. A former collegiate athlete in football and track, Connor pairs his sports experience with academic expertise to the pieces he writes. He holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.

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