Belal Muhammad, understanding the significant effort required to earn a UFC title shot, expressed confusion regarding the potential for Ilia Topuria to receive an immediate championship opportunity after voluntarily relinquishing his featherweight title and moving to a new division.
Since declaring his intention to compete permanently at 155 pounds, Topuria has been vocal about challenging the reigning lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, even asserting that the UFC promised him this chance. Makhachev pushed back, highlighting that he has already faced criticism for his two victories over former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski. He suggested that defeating another fighter from the 145-pound division wouldn`t significantly enhance his legacy unless Topuria first clearly established himself as a top contender in the lightweight ranks.
Muhammad, who is both a friend and training partner of Makhachev, shares this perspective and dismisses any notion that the UFC lightweight champion is avoiding anyone.
“It`s truly remarkable,” Muhammad commented while speaking to MMA Fighting. “People consistently refuse to acknowledge the achievements of Team Khabib [Nurmagomedov] and Islam. They desperately want to see them fail and subject them to negativity regardless of their accomplishments. When Islam defeated Alexander Volkanovski, who was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter globally at the time, in a close initial bout, the reaction was `he`s terrible… he didn`t finish him, he should have finished him, he`s just fighting a 145er.` Then, when he went out and finished him in the rematch, it just became `Well, Volkanovski was still a 145er.`”
“So now Topuria, whom I believe is slightly smaller than Volkanovski, is moving up. If Islam dominates him, the argument will simply be `Oh well, he`s a 145er, he can just move back down.` There is genuinely nothing for Islam to gain from facing him.”
Recent rumors have circulated suggesting that Topuria is targeting the upcoming UFC 317 event on June 28 during International Fight Week for his next fight, and he is reportedly expected to contend for a lightweight title, potentially even if Makhachev isn`t involved.
Does this scenario imply that an interim title might be introduced? Or is it even remotely fathomable that Makhachev could be stripped of his belt?
Neither of these possibilities appeals to Muhammad, who recognizes Makhachev as the current top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. He sees Islam as the type of competitor whose willingness to accept any challenge is even immortalized in a quote displayed at the UFC Performance Institute.
“When [Islam] said he should fight someone else first, that he needs to earn it, he wasn`t saying, `I refuse to fight him,`” Muhammad clarified. “He was saying let him earn the opportunity. We, too, have had to deal with people diminishing my own record and criticizing me no matter what. So let him go out there and defeat someone like Charles Oliveira – and why would that even need to be for a title? You willingly vacated your title. You decided to move up on your own terms because you didn`t want to cut the weight.
“It`s not as if you defended the featherweight belt 10 times, or even five. When Volkanovski moved up, he had already beaten virtually everyone in his division. He earned his right to challenge for the lightweight title. Topuria, at the time he moved up, still had opponents like Diego Lopes, Yair Rodriguez was still down there, as was the undefeated Movsar Evloev. There were still many contenders at 145 pounds to fight. He simply chose to move up independently. That`s why I believe he should compete in at least one more fight at 155 pounds to truly earn a title shot. It shouldn`t be for an interim title. It shouldn`t be any immediate shot, especially considering Islam defends his belt annually.”
It is difficult to dispute this line of reasoning given Makhachev`s dominance since becoming lightweight champion, highlighted by a record-setting four title defenses in the UFC`s 155-pound division. Furthermore, Muhammad genuinely believes Topuria must prove his capabilities in the lightweight division. Topuria`s only prior fight in the UFC at 155 pounds was against Jai Herbert, where he was visibly hurt early on before eventually securing a knockout victory.
Muhammad knows from personal experience that Makhachev is an incredibly imposing and powerful force on the grappling mats, a fact Topuria would be wise to remember. Additionally, there is no shortage of potential contenders already competing at 155 pounds who Makhachev could face before Topuria potentially jumps the line.
“[Topuria] already competed at that weight class once and got dropped by Jai Herbert,” Muhammad noted. “We have also seen him taken down by Bryce Mitchell. If Islam gets on top of you and takes you down, you are not getting back up. If Islam connects with that head kick, you are not getting back up.”
“From [Makhachev`s team`s] perspective, what is there to gain from it? Beyond the financial aspect, there is very little,” Muhammad elaborated. “For example, [Makhachev] hasn`t fought Justin Gaethje. No matter who Justin fights, many feel he deserves a title shot. He could potentially have one win and fight for the title. Paddy Pimblett is currently on a significant winning streak. There are fighters at 155 that Islam can face. Arman Tsarukyan is still a primary contender. There are other viable opponents for him to fight. Therefore, he is not in a desperate situation where he needs to fight someone from the 145-pound division.”
