Reigning UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is brimming with confidence ahead of his trip to Washington as the UFC White House headliner on June 14. Since talk about the event began last year, Topuria’s ambitions have shone through his media engagements and podcast appearances. This time, he’s obsessed with upsetting one of the best fighters in the world today, Islam Makhachev.
But Topuria doesn’t just want to defeat Makhachev if they ever face off, which would be highly commendable in itself. He wants to go above and beyond a victory. Topuria seeks to make a lasting memory for everyone watching. Even more, he plans to create the memory in front of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Ilia Topuria plans to create lasting UFC memory in front of Khabib Nurmagomedov
Only one fighter has beaten Makhachev in his professional career. At UFC 192 in 2015, Adriano Martins knocked out the Russian in the first round. However, since then, Makhachev has been an unstoppable fighter who has captured titles in two divisions. Topuria is well aware of Makhachev’s abilities, but his passionate self-belief has sponsored the ambition of submitting Makhachev in a never-before-seen feat. Specifically, he plans to submit Makhachev using his favorite submission in front of Nurmagomedov.
“D’Arce choke? I’m gonna submit you with that
I will take him close to Khabib. I will submit him close to Khabib”
Topuria made the claims during an episode of the PBD podcast. The UFC reportedly planned to match Makhachev and Topuria on June 14. However, they canceled the fight due to pay-related disputes. For many fans, the now-postponed showdown could be the biggest UFC fight after Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Reports claim Makhachev’s first welterweight title defense will hold against top contender Ian Machado Garry during the summer. However, there is no official communication about the matchup. Still, if Garry succeeds in upsetting Makhachev in the end, it would significantly impair Topuria’s chances of getting his dream fight. Topuria’s pragmatic dream, though, has to be winning next month’s headliner against Gaethje at the White House’s South Lawn.
