UFC champ Islam Makhachev ‘not afraid’ of Ilia Topuria

Daniel Cormier is firing back at the notion that elite lightweight are afraid of Ilia Topuria.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who is vacating the UFC featherweight title to move up to the lightweight division, recently said he’s targeting a title shot vs. Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) or a No. 1 contender bout with Charles Oliveira for his next fight. However, he thinks both men want no part of him.

UFC Hall of Famer and commentator Cormier disputes that claim, and although he has immense respect for Topuria’s skillset, he doesn’t think casting a narrative that fear is involved, is utterly off base.

“The important thing is, all the conversation surrounds Ilia Topuria right now,” Cormier said Friday on his YouTube channel. “Ilia said that he wants a title fight. Point blank. He said he’s focusing all of his training (on Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira). … Ilia Topuria is a cool guy, but I kind of disagree. I know for sure Islam Makhachev is not afraid of him.

“I’ll tell you this as a person that’s a friend of Islam, a person that’s known Islam for years and years. He’s not afraid of him. Ilia Topuria might strike some fear in most, or some, Islam’s not afraid of him. And I’ll be honest with you: Neither is Justin Gaethje. Neither is Charles Oliveira. Neither is Dustin Poirier, or Michael Chandler. Those guys aren’t afraid of each other. They’re fighters, and when you’re a fighter, fear is kind of the last thing that crosses your mind in regards to another fighter, especially if all you have to do is fight him.”

Cormier said he understands why Makhachev may not be keen to face Topuria. His record-setting lightweight title reign has been criticized for being filled with opponent who are undersized or underprepared, and he doesn’t want that perception to continue.

Ultimately, though, Cormier said Makhachev vs. Topuria is a box office fight for the UFC, and if it’s all about the money, then any matchup offers for Topuria should be considered seriously.

Islam doesn’t want to fight someone who has been at 145, Charles wants a title fight .There’s so many people that have a clear idea of what their direction is, and that’s why I think they don’t want to fight Ilia. But ultimately, to fight Ilia, is to be in the biggest fight that the weight class can give you right now.”