Ilia Topuria Reveals the Secret of the Dagestan Team: “The One Behind Islam is Khabib!”

Ilia Topuria is never one to stay quiet when provoked—and ahead of his biggest opportunity yet, the newly crowned featherweight champion has taken direct aim at two of MMA’s most powerful figures: Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov. With the UFC 317 lightweight title on the line, Topuria isn’t just preparing for a belt—he’s escalating a personal feud with Team Khabib that’s threatening to overshadow the fight itself.

Topuria’s Meteoric Rise Continues

After scoring a devastating knockout over Alexander Volkanovski, Ilia Topuria shocked the MMA world by jumping divisions rather than defending his featherweight title. Most expected “El Matador” to clean out the 145-pound division first. But Topuria—known for his bold decisions and unshakable self-belief—had other ideas.

In a controversial move, he leapfrogged other lightweight contenders to challenge for the vacant UFC lightweight championship at UFC 317. And it didn’t take long for the criticism to come flooding in—especially from Islam Makhachev, who previously held the belt, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, the division’s most legendary figure.

Khabib and Makhachev Reject Topuria’s Fast Track

Before the UFC 317 bout was confirmed, Islam Makhachev made headlines claiming he wouldn’t vacate the lightweight title even if he pursued the welterweight belt. He stated that if Ilia Topuria wanted to be a legitimate challenger, he should prove himself with at least one contender fight at 155 pounds. Khabib Nurmagomedov echoed these sentiments, questioning why the UFC would hand over a title shot so easily to someone who hadn’t yet competed in the division.

Their message was clear: Topuria hadn’t earned it.

Topuria Strikes Back

But Ilia Topuria, never one to back down from a challenge—physical or verbal—clapped back in a fiery interview with ESPN Deportes, mocking what he called the hypocrisy and self-importance of Team Khabib.

“Khabib and Makhachev tried to make themselves look important. They act as if they invented the sport. It’s to tell them, ‘Guys, sit back, enjoy the sun wherever you are, and do what you’re told to do.’”

That phrase—“Do what you’re told to do”—quickly lit up MMA social media circles. Topuria wasn’t just challenging them in the Octagon—he was undermining their aura of dominance and control, built over a decade by Dagestan’s wrestling empire.

The Irony: Makhachev Vacates Anyway

Adding salt to the wound, Islam Makhachev ended up vacating the lightweight belt anyway as he pursued a historic shot at 170 pounds, contradicting his earlier promise not to vacate.

Topuria was quick to highlight the irony, noting that while Makhachev had accused him of taking shortcuts, it was Makhachev himself who abandoned the belt without defending it.

“What are they making up? There are two days left until everything comes out… What are they talking about? ‘I’m not going to vacate the title even if I move up to 170 pounds.’ But now I’m fighting directly for the belt.”

Now, Topuria will headline UFC 317, competing for the vacant lightweight crown against a yet-to-be-announced opponent. It marks an unprecedented opportunity for the 27-year-old, who could become one of the few two-division champions in UFC history—without ever defending his first belt.

The Mind Games Begin

For Topuria, this war of words is more than hype—it’s strategy. He’s playing mind games with Makhachev and Khabib, both known for their stoic composure and no-nonsense approach. But Topuria brings a different energy: he’s brash, confrontational, and unafraid of punching up, both literally and figuratively.

His mocking of Team Khabib strikes at a sore spot for many Dagestani fighters—the accusation that they’re part of a controlled system, unable or unwilling to make decisions independently of Khabib. While there’s no doubt about the success of the “Khabib camp,” Topuria’s comments suggest he believes their era of dominance may be coming to an end.

Makhachev’s Silence Speaks Volumes

Interestingly, Islam Makhachev has not responded publicly to Topuria’s provocations. This uncharacteristic silence could be interpreted as a sign of focus—or perhaps discomfort. While Makhachev prepares for his potential clash at welterweight, his old division is being taken over by one of MMA’s loudest rising stars.

With the spotlight shifting and the stakes higher than ever, Topuria’s verbal grenades seem to be doing their intended damage.

The Future of the Lightweight Division

The UFC lightweight division is at a crossroads. With Makhachev vacating, Charles Oliveira on a downward slope, and Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and others nearing the tail end of their careers, Ilia Topuria represents a new face of violence in the 155-pound arena.

Whether his words will match his performance remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Topuria has won the attention war heading into UFC 317.

If he wins the belt, especially in dominant fashion, he will not only have silenced his critics—he’ll have rendered the entire Dagestani power structure vulnerable, opening the door for a new wave of international stars with sharper tongues and fearless hearts.

Topuria’s Legacy in the Making

With every press conference, interview, and headline, Ilia Topuria is building a legacy—not just as a fighter, but as a star. He understands that MMA is as much about perception as performance. He’s not just chasing titles—he’s rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a UFC champion in this new era.

He’s loud. He’s unapologetic. He’s clever. And more than anything, he’s dangerous.

So when Ilia Topuria says “Do what you’re told to do” to Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, it’s not just smack talk.

It’s a warning.

Because at UFC 317, if Topuria walks out with gold on each shoulder, he won’t just be a double champ—he’ll be the man who brought down a dynasty.