Ilia Topuria, the former UFC featherweight champion, has shared his thoughts on why the reigning lightweight king, Islam Makhachev, seems reluctant to face him in a potential fight.
Speaking on the program El Hormiguero, Topuria stated, “I don’t want to say that he is afraid, because for all fighters stepping into the octagon is a usual practice. But I think Makhachev is being cautious.”
He went on to assert his conviction about Makhachev`s apparent hesitation, claiming, “There is only one reason why he doesn’t want to fight me — he knows that I will beat him.”
Topuria also speculated that Makhachev might be considering moving to a different weight division in pursuit of new challenges, but concluded by stating that Makhachev “hasn’t had the courage that I have.”
