Written by Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Belal Muhammad knows better than most how much work it can take to earn a UFC title shot, so he doesn’t understand why Ilia Topuria is getting a pass after willingly giving up his featherweight belt to move to a new division.
Ever since declaring his intention to move to 155 pounds on a permanent basis, Topuria has been calling for a chance to face reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, even saying the UFC promised him that opportunity. Makhachev fired back by pointing out he already faced criticism for two wins over ex-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and knocking off another 145-pounder wouldn’t do much for his legacy unless Topuria clearly established himself as a No. 1 contender first.
Muhammad, who counts Makhachev as a friend and training partner, agrees and also scoffs at the idea the UFC lightweight king is backing down from anybody.
“It’s crazy,” Muhammad said, speaking to MMA Fighting. “The people never want to give Team Khabib [Nurmagomedov] their respect. They want to see them lose so badly. They just want to shun them and put hate on them no matter what it is. When he beats [Alexander] Volkanovski, who was the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world at that time in a close fight it’s like, ‘Oh he sucks … he didn’t finish him, he should have finished him, he’s a 145er’ and then he goes out there and finishes him and it’s like, ‘Well Volkanovski’s a ‘45er.’
“So now Topuria, I think he’s a little bit smaller than Volkanovski, he’s going to move up and if Islam dominates him, [then it’s] ‘Oh well, he’s a ‘45er, he can go back down.’ There’s really nothing to gain for Islam for fighting him.”
Rumors recently circulated that Topuria is targeting the upcoming UFC 317 card on June 28 during International Fight Week for his next fight and he’s expected to challenge for a lightweight title whether or not Makhachev is involved.
Does that mean an interim title could get introduced? Is it even fathomable that Makhachev would get stripped of his belt?
Neither of those options are appealing to Muhammad, who recognizes Makhachev as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport right now and the kind of fighter who has one of his quotes immortalized at the UFC Performance Institute for his willingness to take on any and all challenges.
“When [Islam] said let him fight somebody else, earn it. He’s not saying, ‘I won’t fight him.’ He’s saying let him earn it,” Muhammad said. “We’ve had to deal with this already. People are already shunning my résumé, they’re hating on me no matter what. So let him go out there, beat a Charles Oliveira, why would it have to be for a title? You vacated your title. You wanted to move up on your own. You don’t want to cut the weight.
“It’s not like you defended the belt 10 times at [featherweight] or five times. When Volkanovski did it, he already beat everybody there. He earned his shot to move up. Topuria, he had Diego Lopes at the time, he still had Yair [Rodriguez] down there, [Movsar] Evloev, who is undefeated. There’s still a lot of guys at 45 to fight. He’s just choosing to move up on his own. That’s why I think he should fight at least one more fight at 155 to earn a title shot. It shouldn’t be an interim title shot. It shouldn’t be nothing. Because Islam’s defending every year.”
It’s hard to argue against that logic given Makhachev’s dominance since becoming lightweight champion, not to mention a record-setting run after defending the title four times, the most ever in the UFC’s 155-pound division. Add to that, Muhammad truly believes Topuria has to prove himself as a lightweight. The only time Topuria fought in the division in the UFC, he got hurt early by Jai Herbert before eventually scoring the knockout win.
Muhammad knows from personal experience that Makhachev is an imposing force of nature on the mats and Topuria would do well to remember that as well. Plus there are no shortage of potential contenders already at 155 pounds that Makhachev could face before Topuria jumps the line.
“[Topuria] went up there already. He got dropped by Jai Herbert,” Muhammad said. “We’ve seen him get taken down by Bryce Mitchell. If Islam gets on top of you, takes you down, you’re not getting back up. If Islam hits you with that head kick, you’re not getting back up.
“For [Makhachev’s team], it’s like what am I going to gain from it? What is there to gain for Islam besides just the money? It’s just like [Makhachev hasn’t] fought Justin Gaethje. No matter who Justin fights, he deserves the title shot. He could have one win and fight for the title. Paddy Pimblett’s on a long [winning] streak right now. There’s guys at 55 he can fight. Arman [Tsarukyan] is still there. There’s other opponents for him to fight. So he’s not desperate to have to fight a ‘45er.”