Ilia Topuria warns Islam Makhachev is hiding and preparing to “kick” Paddy Pimblett.
Fresh off the most dominant win of his career, newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is wasting no time looking toward his next victims. Just days after his brutal first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317, Topuria sat down with TMZ Sports to reflect on the victory—and fire warning shots at two of the most talked-about names in the sport: Paddy Pimblett and Islam Makhachev.
In a revealing interview, the 28-year-old Topuria, now the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world, made it clear that he feels untouchable in the lightweight division and is already eyeing legendary status in the sport.
Topuria on Paddy Pimblett: “One of the Easiest Fights of My Life”
After his emphatic knockout win over Oliveira, the Octagon drama didn’t end. Almost immediately, Paddy Pimblett entered the cage and confronted Topuria, setting off a frenzy among fans who have been waiting for years to see the two rivals settle their feud.
Topuria, however, wasn’t impressed by Pimblett’s post-fight antics.
“All the fans around the world want to see that fight. And I have to be honest—it’s one of the easiest fights I could have in the lightweight division,” Topuria said confidently.
The champ didn’t mince words when describing his confidence going into a potential Pimblett fight. In his mind, it’s a mismatch from start to finish.
“I can do with him whatever I want to do. It’s a very exciting fight for the fans, but for me? I’ll enjoy it. I’ll shine again.”
Pressed for a prediction, Topuria doubled down on his ruthlessness.
“I promise you, I could choose the way I want to finish him.”
When asked if it would end in the first round, Topuria smirked.
“That’s for sure. He’s not going to stay there for more than one round with me.”
The message was loud and clear: Topuria sees Pimblett as little more than a speed bump on his road to greatness.
Ilia Topuria Accuses Islam Makhachev of Dodging Him
While Paddy Pimblett is a rivalry born of personal animosity, the mention of Islam Makhachev brought a more tactical tone to Topuria’s comments. The featherweight-turned-lightweight king took aim at Makhachev’s recent decision to vacate his lightweight belt and pursue a second title in the welterweight division.
Topuria believes Makhachev’s move was a strategic attempt to avoid facing him at 155 lbs.
“I think Islam made a great decision. If the UFC offered him Justin Gaethje or some other contender, I think he’d stay at 155. But with me coming up, he was like, ‘I don’t have to take this risk.’ He went to 170 to avoid me.”
Topuria didn’t stop there—he went as far as to claim that Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team know he’s the biggest threat to their legacy.
“Even Khabib knows. The only reason they don’t want me to fight Islam is because they know I’m going to beat him. They know I’ll put him to sleep.”
It’s a bold claim, but one that Topuria seems fully prepared to back up if the opportunity arises.
The Dream: Becoming the UFC’s First Three-Division Champion
Topuria’s ambition doesn’t stop at conquering lightweight. The undefeated Spanish-Georgian fighter has his eyes set on making history by becoming the first fighter ever to hold titles in three divisions.
When asked what his ideal career path would look like, Topuria didn’t hesitate:
“Ideally, I’d love to see Islam get the welterweight title. And then the UFC lets me move up to 170 and get the third belt.”
If that happens, Topuria would not only be a simultaneous two-division champion but also the first fighter in UFC history to hold belts in three different weight classes—a feat that not even legends like Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, or Amanda Nunes have accomplished.
Pound-for-Pound King: A Title Well Earned
Following his dominant win at UFC 317, Topuria leapfrogged Makhachev and others to become the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, according to the UFC’s latest rankings. It’s an honor Topuria doesn’t take lightly.
“It’s always nice and great when you get that kind of recognition. Being the number one fighter in the world, pound-for-pound, not many people can say that. I’m very proud of that fight.”
Topuria’s rise to the top has been meteoric. In less than three years, he’s defeated some of the sport’s most dangerous names, including Josh Emmett, Alexander Volkanovski, and now Charles Oliveira. Each victory has been more dominant than the last.
What’s Next? Fans Demand Answers
With Topuria sitting firmly atop the lightweight division, the question now turns to what’s next.
Paddy Pimblett seems like the most obvious next challenger, thanks to the personal animosity and fan interest. However, few see Pimblett as a real threat to Topuria’s reign.
Islam Makhachev remains the dream matchup for hardcore fans, pitting two of the most dominant grapplers in UFC history against one another. But with Makhachev moving to 170, that fight may be delayed—if it happens at all.
Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, and even a returning Dustin Poirier are possible contenders, though none have the storyline heat that Pimblett or Makhachev would bring.
Topuria, for his part, seems happy to fight anyone—but it’s clear he sees bigger prizes on the horizon.
The Making of a Legend?
If Ilia Topuria succeeds in beating Pimblett, defending against a few more top lightweights, and then moving up to conquer the welterweight division, he’ll have achieved something no fighter has done before.
He would also cement his place among the greatest to ever step inside the Octagon, possibly even surpassing the legacies of Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, and Khabib.
But as Topuria himself admits, he’s not getting ahead of himself.
“Right now, I’m just enjoying this moment. It’s been a long road to the top. But we’re not done yet.”
A Showman Outside, a Killer Inside the Cage
Part of what makes Topuria so captivating is his dual persona: outside the cage, he’s calm, thoughtful, and speaks with confidence but without arrogance. Inside the Octagon, he’s a ruthless finisher, capable of shutting the lights out with one punch or choking an opponent unconscious with surgical precision.
His dismantling of Oliveira was a perfect example. Topuria called his shot before the fight, promising to end it in the first round—and delivered exactly that.
“I respect Charles, but I knew what was going to happen. When you know your abilities, it’s easy to predict the outcome.”
Final Word: Is There Anyone Who Can Stop Ilia Topuria?
Right now, it doesn’t look like it. Topuria has cleaned out the featherweight division, seized the lightweight throne, and has his sights set on welterweight. Along the way, he’s taken out legends, rising stars, and former champions.
The only real questions left:
Can Paddy Pimblett somehow survive the onslaught and pull off the biggest upset in UFC history?
Will Islam Makhachev return to lightweight for a true super fight?
Or will Topuria simply move on, chasing greatness in a third division?
One thing is certain: Ilia Topuria is writing his own legend, one knockout at a time.
Stay tuned for UFC’s next move—because whether it’s Pimblett, Makhachev, or someone else entirely, the man at the top of the pound-for-pound list is waiting. And he’s promising nothing but destruction.
