UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has reiterated his claim that UFC Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is deliberately avoiding a fight against him.
According to Topuria, facing Makhachev was his primary objective, but because Makhachev “decided to run away,” he instead challenged Charles Oliveira, whom he recently defeated. Topuria suggested that Makhachev`s contemplation of moving up to the welterweight division might be a strategy to evade their matchup. He speculated that Makhachev would have remained at lightweight if offered a fight against someone like Justin Gaethje, implying that Islam perceives Topuria as a more dangerous threat.
“Makhachev knows that I am dangerous and can put him to sleep. Even Khabib knows,” Topuria was quoted as saying, expressing high confidence in his finishing ability against the lightweight king.
Topuria captured the vacant UFC Featherweight title by achieving a knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at the end of June.
