Ilia Topuria has become one of the biggest names in the UFC today. Undefeated, a double-division champion, and one of the most confident trash-talkers in the sport, Ilia has built a reputation for backing up every bold claim he makes.
After conquering the featherweight division and vacating his belt, he moved to lightweight and captured gold again cementing his place as one of the most dangerous talents in MMA right now.
But recently, Ilia Topuria crossed a line that lit up the MMA world. In a controversial interview, he didn’t just talk about Islam Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion but he also dragged UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov into the conversation.
His comments came across not just as competitive confidence but as outright disrespect, leaving fans stunned.
This article breaks down what Ilia said, why it created such a storm, how it affects the Islam vs. Ilia rivalry, and why mentioning Khabib was unnecessary.
Ilia Topuria: Undefeated, Double Champ, and a Rising Superstar
Ilia Topuria is not a random fighter speaking for attention. He is one of the brightest talents in the UFC, boasting:
- An undefeated MMA record
- Championship titles in two divisions
- A massive and growing fanbase
- A blend of power, grappling, and killer mentality
- One of the sharpest trash-talking personalities in the UFC
His rise has been explosive. At featherweight, he destroyed contenders and dethroned champions.
After dominating the division, he shifted to lightweight and once again proved that his skill level transcends weight classes.
Ilia understands the entertainment side of the sport. He knows fans love confidence, rivalry, and verbal warfare. But this time, he pushed it further than anyone expected.
The Interview That Started It All
During a recent sit-down interview, Ilia was asked about a potential matchup with Islam Makhachev. This was not the first time Ilia has called out Islam, but this time his tone was much more aggressive and disrespectful.
The interviewer asked: “What do you think about Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria?”
Ilia’s response immediately went viral.
Ilia Topuria Claims He Would Outstrike and Outwrestle Islam
Ilia began by explaining that his wrestling is actually stronger than his striking, but he chooses to strike because fans enjoy stand-up wars.
“My ground game is better than my striking, but people want striking more. So I give people what they want.”
This was already a strong statement. Islam Makhachev is considered by many as the best grappler in MMA today. Claiming a better ground game than that is a huge claim.
But Ilia didn’t stop there. He continued:
“Islam and team Khabib are arrogant. I will outstrike Islam on the feet, and then I will take him down in Khabib’s corner and submit him in front of Khabib.”
This sentence shook the internet.
Not only did he say he could outstrike Makhachev a fighter who recently knocked out top opponents but he also said he would take Islam down and submit him in front of Khabib.
- This was personal.
- This was emotional.
- This was the type of callout designed to spark a wildfire in the MMA community.
Ilia Goes After Khabib Nurmagomedov
The interview then took an even more surprising turn. While talking about Islam, Ilia suddenly brought up Khabib Nurmagomedov who has been retired since 2020 and hasn’t talked much about fighting for years.
Ilia said:
“If Khabib comes in front of me, I will also go for Khabib’s head.”
Fans and analysts immediately reacted. Why bring up Khabib? Why speak about a retired legend in such an aggressive way?
This is the part where most people felt Ilia crossed the line.
Khabib is considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, undefeated and dominant like few others. Many believe talking about him as if he’s an active target is not just unnecessary it’s disrespectful.
Khabib is retired, a coach, and someone who rarely engages in trash talk. Dragging him into an active rivalry seems uncalled for.
Even fans who support Topuria agreed that mentioning Khabib was not needed.
Ilia Calls Islam “Scared” and “Too Far Away to Respond”
Ilia wasn’t done yet. He accused Islam of talking too much but backing away when it comes to fighting.
“Islam talks too much and when it comes to the fight, he never agrees.”
He also said:
“It is very easy to talk from thousands of kilometers away, but you have to prove what you talk.”
This is a direct shot at Islam’s willingness to accept new challengers. Islam is known for fighting top contenders, but Ilia believes the lightweight champion avoids him because of his striking power and fast rise.
Ilia also labeled the entire “Team Khabib” as:
“Cocky.”
A bold description, considering how respected Khabib, Islam, and their teammates are for discipline, humility, and hard work.
Why Ilia’s Comments Went Viral Immediately
Here’s why this blew up instantly:
1. He attacked two of the most respected names in MMA
- Islam Makhachev is the current lightweight king.
- Khabib Nurmagomedov is a retired legend.
Calling them arrogant and cocky is enough to ignite the entire MMA fanbase.
2. He claimed superior wrestling over Islam
Very few dare to say this publicly. Islam is known as a suffocating grappler. Saying you can outwrestle him is borderline outrageous.
3. He promised to submit Islam “in front of Khabib”
This is next-level trash talk meant to offend, ignite rivalry, and attract maximum attention.
4. He threatened Khabib despite him being retired
This is what really crossed the line. You can target Islam because he’s active. But Khabib? He’s a legend who left the sport at the top, respected globally.
5. UFC fans love controversy
- Anything involving Khabib instantly goes viral.
- Anything involving Islam vs. Ilia instantly becomes a hot topic.
Ilia mixed all of it into one explosive interview.
Was Ilia Topuria Right or Wrong to Mention Khabib?
From a purely promotional perspective, Ilia knows exactly what he’s doing. He is building hype, creating storylines, and forcing Islam to react.
Fighters like Conor McGregor became global stars because of their willingness to talk big and attack entire teams.
But from a respect standpoint, Ilia may have gone too far.
Why It Was Not Needed:
- Khabib is retired and has nothing to do with current championship discussions.
- Khabib has never insulted Ilia publicly.
- The rivalry is between Ilia and Islam, not Ilia and a retired fighter.
- It feels like unnecessary drama rather than real competitive talk.
Why Ilia Did It Anyway:
- He knows the MMA world reacts heavily when Khabib’s name is mentioned.
- Targeting the “Dagestani dynasty” increases headlines.
- He wants Islam emotionally invested in the fight.
- He wants UFC pressure to book Islam vs. Ilia next.
This is classic psychological warfare.
Will Islam Makhachev Respond?
Islam usually stays calm and controlled when dealing with trash talk. He focuses on fighting, not drama. But even he might respond to comments targeted at his coach and mentor.
Islam may see this as disrespect not only to him but to the entire team that groomed him into the champion he is today.
- A fight between Islam and Ilia was already interesting…
- Now it feels personal.
How Does This Impact the Islam vs. Ilia Fight?
Ilia’s words have added:
- More hype
- More intensity
- More pressure
- More emotional stakes
If UFC books the fight now, it will be one of the biggest lightweight clashes of the decade.
Stylistic Breakdown:
Ilia Topuria’s Strengths
- Knockout power
- Fast counter-striking
- Excellent grappling base
- Iron confidence
- Championship experience in two divisions
Islam Makhachev’s Strengths
- Elite wrestling and grappling
- Smart game management
- Strong striking improvements
- Endless cardio
- Dagestani fight IQ
Ilia believes he can outstrike Islam and even outwrestle him. Whether that’s true or promotional trash talk, only the octagon can decide.
Is Team Khabib Really “Arrogant”?
Many fans disagree with Ilia’s statement that “Islam and team Khabib are arrogant.”
The Dagestani team is known for:
- Discipline
- Humility
- Respect
- Hard training
- Staying away from drama
Compared to other MMA personalities, Team Khabib is considered one of the most respectful groups.
Ilia labeling them arrogant appears to be more of a psychological tactic or a strategy to trigger reactions than an accurate observation.
Why Ilia’s Comments Might Backfire
Even though Ilia is undefeated, calling out two of the most respected fighters in MMA might create pressure he doesn’t need.
Possible Backfires:
- Islam will train harder than ever
- Team Khabib will take this personally
- Fans who loved Ilia may shift support to Islam
- UFC fighters may unite against Ilia’s disrespect
- Losing after talking this big can damage star power
One thing is certain, Ilia has placed himself in the center of the MMA universe.
Why the MMA Community Is Divided
Ilia’s comments created two sides:
Fans Who Support Ilia
- They love confidence
- They like entertainment
- They want big, aggressive callouts
- They enjoy when a fighter challenges the “dominant Dagestani system”
Fans Who Support Islam and Khabib
- They believe Ilia talked too much
- They think disrespecting Khabib was unnecessary
- They trust Islam’s skillset
- They see Ilia as overconfident
This split is exactly what Ilia wanted. When fans are divided, interest skyrockets.
Ilia Topuria: Genius Marketer or Disrespectful Fighter?
This is the biggest debate right now.
- Some people say Ilia is a genius.
- He understands the entertainment side of the UFC and uses his voice to make matchups bigger, earning more money and attention.
Others say he is disrespecting legends and crossing boundaries to stay relevant.
Both can be true at the same time.
- Ilia knows how to sell fights.
- Ilia also went too far by mentioning Khabib.
What Happens Next?
The UFC loves drama, big rivalries, and fighters who create massive storylines. Ilia has given the UFC every reason to push for Islam vs. Ilia as soon as possible.
Here’s what to expect:
- Islam will likely respond in an interview.
- Khabib may give a short, classy reply or stay silent.
- The UFC will use this drama in promos.
- Social media will explode with clips of Ilia’s statements.
- When the fight is booked, it will be one of the biggest events in years.
This rivalry has officially reached a new level.
Final Thoughts
Ilia Topuria is one of the most talented and exciting fighters in the UFC. His undefeated record, his confidence, and his ability to entertain make him a unique superstar.
But in his latest interview, he crossed lines that shocked fans and fighters alike.
- Calling out Islam is understandable he’s the lightweight champion.
- But calling out Khabib, a retired legend, felt unnecessary.
Still, Ilia knows exactly what he is doing. He is building the biggest storyline in the lightweight division. Whether you love him or hate him, he has made the world talk about him and that is exactly what he wanted.
One thing is for sure:
If Ilia and Islam finally meet in the octagon, it will be one of the most heated fights in UFC history.