- Makhachev's manager dismisses Oliveira ahead of his fight with Topuria
- Ilia Topuria analyzes Makhachev's situation: "I think mentally he's broken"
Ilia Topuria's plans do not involve chasing Islam Makhachev wherever the Dagestani goes. While it was the fight that 'El Matador' was looking for for his first fight in his return to lightweight, the one that would give him the belt and the double championship, Makhachev's move to welterweight has changed things. He will face Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28, and the best fight the UFC could offer... just won't happen
This week, when asked if he would 'chase' Makhachev to welterweight to face him, Ilia Topuria was clear.
"But why chase him, if someone runs away you don't have to bully them, if they run away you have to let them escape. I don't want to fight with people who don't want to fight with me, if you want to fight under professional conditions, we do it... If not, I'm not going to run after you to chase you either, I don't have that need either, you know? I wanted to do it because the fans wanted to see that fight, it was something super exciting for everyone and the truth is that it was a fight that even I wanted to do. At a professional level it is a big fight, but well...", analyzed the Spanish-Georgian in front of the press.
I don't want to fight with people who don't want to fight with me either,
However, Ilia did not rule out the idea of moving up to welterweight in the future to seek the triple championship, something never achieved in the UFC. That step, however, will not depend on whether or not Makhachev is the champion.