UFC titleholders Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev could be on a collision course in 2026.
Topuria, who hasn’t fought since winning the then-vacant lightweight title at UFC 317, expects to return to the cage in the coming months. After fighting the winner of Pimblett vs. Gaethje, Topuria could move up to 170 lbs to fight Makhachev in a huge superfight.
Topuria and Makhachev’s careers have been intertwined since the former UFC featherweight titleholder announced his full-time move to lightweight last year. Makhachev opted to move up to welterweight following Belal Muhammad’s loss to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, indefinitely postponing a potential clash with Topuria.
Makhachev recently claimed that a fight with Topuria would not happen at lightweight, and he plans to fight at welterweight for the rest of his career. He has repeatedly dismissed Topuria’s struggles in previous comments, and the lightweight champion responded on social media.
Ilia Topuria: Islam Makhachev could not ‘subdue me in his dreams’
After one X One follower said Makhachev would subject him to a possible title fight, Topuria scoffed at the possibility.
“Not even in his dreams,” Topuria said.
“He’s even bad at dreams.”
At the time of writing, Makhachev has not responded to Topuria’s comments. He called for a welterweight title defense against former titleholder Kamaru Usman later this year.
This is not the first time Topuria has made bold predictions about a possible clash with Makhachev. He previously promised to eliminate Makhachev in the last confidence that Topuria exuded.
Topuria remains undefeated in his UFC career and appears likely to clash with the winner of Gaethje vs. Pimblett. Topuria and Pimblett have been rivals for years, ever since a hotel dispute in 2022.
Don’t be surprised if a fight with Makhachev is in the cards after Topuria’s lightweight tenure.
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