“What Makhachev said sounds like a lie to me”

In your media week, Ilia Topuria has gone to ‘El Hormiguero’ to chat with his good friend Pablo Motos, again leaving several headlines about his next fight against Justin Gaethje at the UFC Casa Blanca, and especially about Islam Makhachev. As he already confessed to MARCA, ‘El Matador’ stated that at first they told him that he was going to fight the Dagestani on June 14, but finally Khabib Nurmagomedov’s best friend he leaned back. Makhachev came out to deny it, but Topuria stressed that He doesn’t trust his version.

Most of the time it has not even been Makhachev who has come forward to these accusations, but rather his agent. Ali Abdelaziz. According to him, Topuria asked for a lot of money, Islam was injured, and many other examples of versions that they do not agree with each other.

He already had excuses once, and now he has excuses for the second time

Ilia Topuria, in ‘El Hormiguero’

During this week, Makhachev – or Ali from Islam’s account – posted a tweet in which he stated that it was Ilia who backed out. asking for a lot of moneybut his own Dana White denied these words in a live stream with Adin Ross, leaving him in evidence.

Now it was ‘El Matador’ who had his turn to counterattack. “That I asked for a lot of money? What Makhachev said sounds like a lie to mebecause I know the truth. First of all, one athlete doesn’t care what the other athlete asks for. I don’t count anyone’s pocketbook. Whatever my opponent is going to charge… God bless him. He already had excuses once, and now he has excuses for the second time“, he stated.

Topuria and Makhachev, destined to meet

What’s more, Ilia has been calling for this fight against Islam for a long time, since a year ago she left vacant the featherweight belt and moved up to lightweight in search of the double crown. When Topuria reached 155 pounds, his intention was to become a double champion by fighting Islam, dominating the division at that time, but the Dagestani decided to upgrade at the same time claiming that he also wanted to be a double champion.

It seemed that ‘Team Khabib’ he didn’t want to face Topuria at that time. First they demanded a belt defense to take him seriously, and when he became the first fighter in history After knocking out Max Holloway they changed plans and moved to 170 pounds. It’s not a matter of fear, but something happens in your decision making. Ilia already said it in the interview with MARCA: “They are strange people.”

A few months ago Makhachev himself stated that he would like to face Topuria, just as Ilia said the same. After knowing that the fight was practically closed for the UFC Casa Blanca, it is strange that everything went wrong at the last moment. They both wanted to fight and it’s the best fight the UFC can do right now, but it will have to wait. Of course, everyone knows that they are destined to meet in the future, so if both keep winning it has to end up happening.