Merab Dvalishvili believes there`s only one logical path for Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria: a fight between them now.
The UFC lightweight champion, Makhachev, is currently waiting. He might move up to welterweight if his friend Belal Muhammad loses his title at UFC 315. Topuria, having recently vacated his featherweight title, is also waiting for a potential shot at the 155-pound championship.
This situation might seem complicated, but Dvalishvili sees a straightforward solution.
“Topuria claims he’s not a featherweight anymore, that he’s a lightweight champion,” Dvalishvili stated in a video from the Fight Back Podcast. “Islam says he doesn’t want to fight ‘small guys,’ but Ilia is a huge name.”
Makhachev`s hesitation to fight Topuria is partly due to the perception that he has defended his title against former featherweights, like Alexander Volkanovski. While some of Makhachev`s past opponents like Renato Moicano, Dustin Poirier, and Charles Oliveira have fought at featherweight before, they have been established lightweight contenders for years.
It’s not clear who Makhachev’s team considers the ideal opponent, although Khabib Nurmagomedov has suggested Arman Tsarukyan as a strong contender. Dvalishvili is confident Makhachev would be a very tough fight for Topuria, but he thinks it’s pointless for Topuria to take another fight before getting the title shot everyone wants.
“Makhachev already defeated Tsarukyan in the past. He’s beaten Oliveira and Poirier,” Dvalishvili pointed out, referring to Makhachev`s previous wins. “A fight with Makhachev won’t be easy for Ilia, but it’s the fight to make. It would be stupid for Ilia to fight Oliveira and risk losing before this superfight.”
“This fight with Makhachev is the superfight.”
Wesley Dunham