Topuria vs. Makhachev? Dana White Drops a Bombshell That Changes Everything

 admin  July 14, 2025  0

When Ilia Topuria brutally flattened Charles Oliveira in the first round of their much-hyped showdown, it didn’t just cement Topuria’s status as a true lightweight champion—it lit a fire under the UFC’s most intriguing potential superfight: Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev.

Now, UFC president Dana White has fanned those flames, teasing that the long-awaited collision between these two elite finishers is “on the horizon.” The matchup that fans, analysts, and fighters themselves have whispered about for months might finally come true. But what needs to happen for this dream fight to materialize?

Let’s break it all down.

Dana White Teases: Topuria vs. Makhachev Could Be Next

During a recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast, Dana White was pressed on what superfights the UFC may line up next. With Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall slipping through the cracks, fans are desperate for a headliner that could shake the sport to its core.

“Another massive fight would be Ilia Topuria vs. Islam,” White said candidly. “It all depends on how things play out.”

White doesn’t usually throw names around lightly. For him to even mention the possibility means the UFC is eyeing this clash very seriously—especially if certain boxes get ticked.

And chief among those conditions? Islam Makhachev has to win another belt.

Makhachev’s Title Ambitions: A Move to Welterweight

While Islam Makhachev has reigned over the lightweight division with precision, patience, and punishing grappling, his most recent moves have been in another direction—north on the scale.

Following his friend and training partner Belal Muhammad’s unsuccessful welterweight title bid against Jack Della Maddalena, Makhachev publicly stated his desire to move up in weight and claim the 170-pound crown.

That declaration put the MMA world on notice.

The likely scenario now? Makhachev challenges Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight title later this year. While no date has been made official, the stakes couldn’t be higher. If Islam wins, he becomes a two-division UFC champion—matching Topuria, who previously held titles at featherweight and now lightweight.

And two active double champs? That’s undisputed superfight territory.

If It Happens: This Fight Could Define the Decade

Let’s imagine the stars align. Makhachev wins the welterweight belt. Topuria defends his lightweight title once or moves up to 170. The fight is booked.

You’re looking at:

Two reigning double champions

Pound-for-pound supremacy on the line

Unbeaten Topuria vs. dominant Makhachev

Striker vs. grappler

Europe vs. Eurasia

New generation vs. Dagestani legacy

It could go down as the most meaningful UFC fight since Khabib vs. McGregor. And maybe, just maybe, the most skill-packed title fight in modern UFC history.

For context, very few fighters have ever won titles in two different weight classes—Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo, and most recently, Ilia Topuria. If both Topuria and Makhachev hold simultaneous titles, it sets up a historic clash never before seen in the UFC.

And as Dana White put it:

“If Islam moves up and wins that title, then you’ve immediately got a superfight between him and Ilia.”

Why the Fight Hasn’t Happened Yet

The paths of Topuria and Makhachev have almost collided before, but backstage politics and timing got in the way.

When Topuria vacated the featherweight belt and moved to lightweight, Makhachev still held the lightweight throne. A direct challenge seemed inevitable. But sources close to the UFC say Makhachev’s camp, aligned with Khabib Nurmagomedov, was hesitant about the matchup, reportedly seeing Topuria as a high-risk, low-reward opponent at the time.

Then came a series of unforeseen events:

Makhachev’s attention shifted to welterweight, sensing vulnerability after Muhammad’s loss

Topuria demolished Charles Oliveira, took the lightweight crown

Della Maddalena claimed the welterweight title and called out anyone and everyone

Now, the landscape is different. A Topuria vs. Makhachev bout now promises title vs. title, a pound-for-pound #1 decider, and a generational clash between two very different philosophies of fighting.

Topuria’s Bigger Ambition: UFC’s First Triple Champion

If anyone is playing 4D chess in the UFC right now, it’s Ilia Topuria.

The Spanish-Georgian phenom hasn’t been shy about his ambitions. After holding the featherweight title and now reigning as lightweight king, Topuria has publicly stated he’s coming for the welterweight crown next.

That would make him the first triple champion in UFC history.

“There’s no ceiling. No one has done it before? That’s exactly why I will,” Topuria told UFC Europe.

So if Makhachev manages to dethrone Della Maddalena and Topuria steps up, we’re not just looking at double champ vs. double champ — we might witness a moment where Topuria becomes the sport’s first triple-titleholder.

For Dana White and the UFC marketing machine, that’s the kind of storyline that could headline International Fight Week, break pay-per-view records, and elevate the brand globally.

What Makes This Matchup So Compelling?

Topuria vs. Makhachev isn’t just compelling because of belts and numbers. It’s the stylistic clash and the mystique surrounding both fighters.

Ilia Topuria: The Cold-Blooded Striker

Undefeated

KO power in both hands

Insane fight IQ

Ruthless finishing instinct

Topuria fights with precision and violence, rarely giving opponents time to breathe. He’s dismantled elite strikers and elite grapplers alike, and his footwork and boxing are among the best in MMA today.

Islam Makhachev: The Dagestani Tactician

World-class wrestling

Suffocating ground control

Khabib-style chain grappling

Iron mental discipline

Makhachev thrives in breaking his opponent’s rhythm, wearing them down, and imposing his will. But he also has underrated striking, particularly with his counter hooks and timing.

The Stakes: More Than Belts

What makes this potential superfight transcendent is what it represents:

The end of the Dagestani era? Makhachev is Khabib’s heir. If Topuria beats him, it would symbolically close the chapter of Nurmagomedov dominance.

Europe’s rise in MMA: Topuria represents Spain and Georgia—a new wave of MMA passion and pride.

The face of the UFC: With Jon Jones nearing retirement and Conor McGregor fading, the UFC desperately needs a new global icon. Either Makhachev or Topuria could fill that void.

The pound-for-pound crown: After his win over Oliveira, Topuria is being touted as the new #1 P4P fighter. Makhachev was previously in that spot. A showdown would settle the debate definitively.

Dana White’s Warning: “These Things Aren’t Guaranteed”

As excited as he sounds about the possibility, Dana White is also realistic.

“I don’t like talking in hypotheticals. These are just options,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen. I was absolutely confident we’d get Jones vs. Aspinall — and here we are today.”

Injuries, contract negotiations, shock upsets — MMA is unpredictable by nature. Still, when Dana White starts publicly naming names, it means the matchmakers are working behind the scenes to make it happen.

Final Thoughts: The Road to the Ultimate Showdown

The path to Topuria vs. Makhachev is still filled with “ifs,” but the momentum is building. Makhachev must first conquer the welterweight division. Topuria must continue to dominate lightweight or make the jump himself. The UFC must align schedules, money, and storylines.

But if everything lines up — and it just might — fight fans could be treated to the most explosive, legacy-defining showdown of the decade.

Because in the end, this isn’t just about belts.

It’s about greatness.

And Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev could decide who wears the crown.