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Islam Makhachev Goes Off on Ilia Topuria and the UFC for Allegedly Lying About Injuries

Islam Makhachev has publicly pushed back against recent claims surrounding his injury status, taking aim at both Ilia Topuria and the UFC in the process. The former lightweight champion believes the narrative being presented does not accurately reflect what happened behind the scenes and made it clear that he is unhappy with how the situation has been handled. Makhachev's comments have reignited debate among fans, with many questioning whether the UFC's explanation and Topuria's version of events tell the full story. As tensions continue to rise between the two stars, the controversy has added yet another layer to one of the biggest rivalries in the sport.

By Copious MMAJune 13, 20262 min read
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What is Islam mad about?


Islam Makhachev revealed in a recent interview that he believes both Ilia Topuria and the UFC have misrepresented why their highly anticipated fight never came together for the UFC White House event. According to Makhachev, Topuria knows exactly what happened behind the scenes, and he claims to have text message exchanges between himself and his management team proving that he accepted the fight offer. Makhachev strongly denied accusations that he was ducking Topuria and pushed back against the narrative that he was unwilling to take the matchup.

The controversy stems from conflicting explanations given by those involved. UFC CEO Dana White has previously suggested that Makhachev was dealing with a hand injury, while Topuria has claimed that Makhachev was seeking more money and was hesitant to fight him. Makhachev's latest comments directly challenge both versions of events and have reignited debate among fans about what really prevented one of the most anticipated fights in the sport from being booked.

Will we ever see this fight?

It appears that Dana White, Islam Makhachev, and Ilia Topuria are all interested in making this fight happen at some point. However, there are still several obstacles standing in the way. The biggest one is Topuria's upcoming title defense against Justin Gaethje this weekend. On the other side, Makhachev is reportedly being lined up for a potential UFC 331 main event against Ian Machado Garry, which could further delay the matchup.

Even beyond those fights, there are other contenders waiting in the wings. Arman Tsarukyan has significantly raised his profile over the past year and could be next in line for a lightweight title opportunity if Topuria remains at 155 pounds. If Topuria decides to vacate the belt and move up in weight, the UFC could potentially book Tsarukyan against Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship while Topuria pursues the long-awaited showdown with Makhachev.

There is also growing speculation about how much longer Makhachev plans to compete. He has repeatedly hinted that his UFC career may not last much longer, leading some fans to believe he could be approaching the final chapter of his run. If that is the case, the UFC may be motivated to book the biggest fights possible while he is still active. Assuming both fighters continue winning, all signs point toward the UFC eventually making Makhachev vs. Topuria, as it remains one of the most anticipated matchups in the sport.