A potential lightweight title defense for Islam Makhachev against Ilia Topuria would undoubtedly be a significant fight. However, it`s apparent that one fighter is considerably more enthusiastic about the idea than the other.
Given that Makhachev has already defeated a featherweight champion on two separate occasions, it`s understandable why his team might be exploring alternative paths for his next move.
As of now, there has been no official announcement regarding the pound-for-pound king`s next opponent, though a recent photo circulating of UFC`s Hunter Campbell alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov did fuel some discussion.
An update concerning UFC 317 did surface from Ilia Topuria`s side, with “El Matador” confirming June 28 as the date he is currently aiming for.
While fans continue to speculate whether the 155-pound champion will face the former featherweight titleholder in Las Vegas, a fellow lightweight contender suggested that Makhachev has very little benefit to gain from this potential matchup.
Beneil Dariush: Makhachev May Not Receive Credit Regardless of Fighting Ilia Topuria
In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Beneil Dariush commented that Islam Makhachev might not get the recognition he deserves, irrespective of the outcome if he were to fight Ilia Topuria.
According to Dariush, if the lightweight champion were to win the fight, a segment of fans might minimize his accomplishment by pointing to his previous wins over Alexander Volkanovski.
Conversely, a loss to Topuria would naturally be a major setback for evident reasons. Furthermore, Makhachev could also face criticism from fans if the highly anticipated fight ultimately does not materialize.
Although this fight is clearly desired by fans and would be a major event, Dariush believes there isn`t significant upside for the Dagestani champion, despite Ilia Topuria`s high standing.
When asked directly if this situation presents a lose-lose scenario for the lightweight champion, Dariush agreed, attributing it partly to the potential negative reactions from some fans within the community.
“There’s truth to that, for sure. It’s not like Islam is going to be the underdog in this fight. If you look at Ilia’s fights, he has been taken down. He can be taken down, it’s not impossible,” Dariush stated. “So I don’t know, I would definitely lean towards Makhachev and it’s one of those things where the MMA community can be very toxic and this is one of those cases where it’s like, ‘Ah you gotta fight this guy.’ It’s like bro, the champion gets to fight whoever he wants kind of.”
Dariush Suggests Islam Makhachev Could Opt to Wait Before His Next Fight
Despite Ilia Topuria confirming his intention to compete at UFC 317, Islam Makhachev`s next fight date remains unconfirmed.
Reports had previously surfaced, although later denied by his team, suggesting that the lightweight champion might wait to see the outcome of the welterweight title fight at UFC 315 before deciding his next move.
With options such as a potential move to welterweight, a fight against Topuria, or facing other lightweight contenders like Justin Gaethje all being viable possibilities for Makhachev, Dariush speculated in the same interview that the 33-year-old champion might simply choose to delay his return to action, given that he has already competed this year.
Dariush described it as a “weird problem to have,” explaining that Makhachev seeks new opponents, but besides Ilia (who is primarily a featherweight), there isn`t a clear, compelling option right now, and Makhachev doesn`t seem particularly keen on the Topuria fight. Therefore, waiting a bit to see who becomes available could be a reasonable strategy.
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley