Islam Makhachev responds to 'large mouth' | MMA News
We might not see a struggle between former light-weight champion Islam Makhachev (27-1) and former featherweight titleholder Ilia Topuria (16-0), but the 2 are doing an glorious job building a future grudge match.
At a latest press convention, Topuria referred to as Makhachev a ‘hypocrite’ and accused the highest pound-for-pound fighter of working from struggle with him.
“(Islam) is the biggest hypocrite I’ve ever seen,” Topuria not too long ago mentioned in a press convention (h/t Marca, Championship Rounds). “He said he didn’t want to give me the opportunity because I was the little guy, and now the little guy is the one looking for the same opportunity I was looking for. How are you going to criticize my decision when you’re doing the same thing right now? I’ve never seen more hypocrisy in my life.”
Topuria gained the featherweight title by knockout out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024. He efficiently defended the title at UFC 308, changing into the first and only fighter to ever knockout Max Holloway. “El Matador” then vacated the championship to transfer up to the light-weight division in pursuit of a second UFC title.
Makhachev vacated the light-weight championship to transfer up to the welterweight division with the identical aspirations as Topuria, but he would not assume their conditions are the identical.
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On Tuesday, the 2 went back and forth on social media after Topuria referred to as Makhachev a ‘coward’ and then refereed to him as ‘little boy’ in Russian.
“The difference between you and me is that I am a man and you are a coward. I speak and fight. you talk and hide. Run away far, leaving no trace. Ты маленький пацан,” Topuria wrote on X.
Makhachev rapidly fired back at Topuria and defined what he believes is the distinction between the 2.
“Difference between me and you, that I cleaned top list in my division, moved to next, but you ran away from two contenders who had consecutive 5-9 wins in FW division. You are nobody in LW division, just a big mouth from Spain with nice haircut. Go get one W, and we can talk boy,” Makhachev responded.
The distinction between you and me is that I’m a man and you’re a coward. I converse and struggle. you speak and conceal. Run away far, leaving no hint. Ты маленький пацан. https://t.co/kDuhhdIB8t
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) May 15, 2025
Topuria faces former light-weight champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant light-weight title in the UFC 317 primary occasion on June 28. Makhachev is anticipated to struggle newly topped welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later this 12 months.
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