Ilia Topuria Reacts to UFC 317 Opponent; Trashes Islam Makhachev

Ilia Topuria was quick to respond to news that UFC boss Dana White announced Tuesday, confirming that the 28-year-old fighter will challenge for the UFC lightweight championship against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, a tentpole event for the MMA market-leader which takes place at the end of International Fight Week on the 28th of June.

After beating the likes of Alex Pereira and Dricus du Plessis to GIVEMESPORT’s power ranking of the best UFC fighters from 2024, largely because of back-to-back knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Topuria had long been linked with a move away from featherweight, as he seeks two-weight champion status with a move to 155 pounds.

The only question mark would be whether he’d fight Islam Makhachev for the title, or if Makhachev, too, would vacate his crown and move to welterweight, to challenge the new champion at 170 pounds, Jack Della Maddalena.

Confident he’ll be beating Oliveira when they face-off next month, Topuria also couldn’t resist taking shots at Makhachev, too.

UFC Confirms Opponents For Khamzat Chimaev, Ilia Topuria, & Islam Makhachev

UFC 317 now has a main event, with Ilia Topuria set to headline, per the latest UFC news.

Ilia Topuria Reacts to Charles Oliveira Fight

Topuria also trash-talked Islam Makhachev

“On 28th of June, another dream will come true,” wrote Topuria on social media, moments after UFC announced his title fight in Las Vegas, together with other marquee bouts like Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev, and Islam Makhachev against Jack Della Maddalena.

“I’ll be the champion of the lightweight division,” he said. “Charles, my apologies in advance. I’m just fighting for my dreams.”

Then, he took aim at Makhachev.

“It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away.”

Islam Makhachev & Ilia Topuria’s professional MMA records (as of 13/05/25)
	Islam Makhachev	Ilia Topuria
Fights	28	16
Wins	27	16
Losses	1	0

Considering the rivalry that Topuria and Makhachev share, there is a slight chance that we still see the fight in the near future — and, there is one scenario in which the bout could be far bigger than it already is.

Should Topuria upset Oliveira to win Makhachev’s old championship at lightweight, and if Makhachev shakes off the weight disadvantage to defeat Della Maddalena, then a champion vs champion bout between Topuria and Makhachev could be one of the most meaningful and significant fights in UFC history because it would, no doubt, determine the true No.1 fighter in the entire sport.