Dana White throws Topuria a bone: “If Makhachev wins the title...”
UFC president White says a Topuria vs. Makhachev showdown is on the horizon. This is how it could happen.
The hype around Ilia Topuria’s brutal first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira was real—and fans loved it. But for many UFC diehards, it wasn’t the fight they’ve been dreaming of. That honor belongs to a potential clash between Topuria and Islam Makhachev—two of the most dominant forces in the promotion today, both gunning to become the true face of the UFC and claim the sport’s pound-for-pound throne.
According to UFC president Dana White, that superfight might be closer than most people think.
Dana White teases Topuria vs. Makhachev
“Another massive fight would be Ilia Topuria vs. Islam,” White said during an appearance on the Full Send Podcast.
The stars nearly aligned once before. When Topuria vacated his featherweight belt to move up to lightweight, Makhachev was the reigning champ. A collision course seemed inevitable—until Makhachev’s camp, closely tied to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s circle, reportedly threw up roadblocks.
Then, when Belal Muhammad—one of Makhachev’s close allies—lost his welterweight title bid to Jack Della Maddalena, the Russian standout shifted gears and announced he was moving up in weight in search of a new belt.
What needs to happen for Topuria vs. Makhachev
His welterweight title fight—likely against Della Maddalena—is expected later this year, though no official date has been set.
“If Islam moves up and wins that title, then you’ve immediately got a superfight between him and Ilia,” White said.
If it happens, both fighters would enter the octagon as two-division champions—something only a handful of athletes in UFC history have accomplished. And with the pound-for-pound No. 1 spot also on the line—currently held by Topuria after his win over Oliveira—it could go down as the fight of the decade.
Still, White knows how unpredictable the sport can be.
“I don’t like talking in hypotheticals. These are just options, depending on how things play out,” he added. “You never know what’s going to happen. I was absolutely confident we’d get Jones vs. Aspinall, and here we are today.”
Ilia Topuria’s next UFC objective
Topuria, born in Germany to Georgian parents and raised in Spain, has his eyes set on making UFC history: becoming the first-ever triple champion. He’s already held titles at featherweight and lightweight. And if he can claim the welterweight strap—possibly from his heated rival—he’ll cement his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
And for fight fans? That might just be the ultimate dream matchup.
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