Ilia Topuria ready to move up division for fight against Islam Makhachev

Ilia Topuria has said that he will be pleased if he can secure a welterweight title fight against current champion Islam Makhachev after UFC Freedom 250.

Topuria will face Justin Gaethje on June 14 at the UFC White House card to unify the lightweight titles in the main event.

Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett in January to win the interim lightweight title, while Topuria is the reigning UFC lightweight champion, and he won the gold by stopping Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025.

Makhachev and Topuria are playing a blame game at the moment for the rumoured fight that never got booked. When the UFC lightweight champion confirmed his fight with Gaethje, he also claimed that the original opponent was supposed to be Islam.

Islam responded to Topuria’s claims with a different version in April and has now spoken again about the bout recently.

“There’s a lot of talk,” Makhachev said. “A lot of discussion about this fight. But… Topuria himself and his team know why the fight Topuria vs Makhachev won’t happen at the White House.”

Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria, while speaking to Megan Olivi in an official UFC interview, said that his quest for a fight against Islam Makhachev is not over and will move up a division happily if UFC allows.

“Always, always,” Topuria said.

“I want to connect the third belt. Everyone knows that. After this fight, if the UFC wants to give me the opportunity to move up to the welterweight division and fight against the current champion, Islam Makhachev, I’ll be very happy. Why not? If you don’t take risks, there is no champagne.”