Muhammad Mokaev hopes to see Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria fight someday.
We nearly had Makhachev vs. Topuria signed, sealed, and delivered. However, Jack Della Maddalena had different plans. Delivering a lights-out performance at UFC 315 in Montreal, JDM defeated Belal Muhammad to capture the welterweight world title, prompting Makhachev to vacate his lightweight throne to conquer another division.
Had ‘Remember The Name’ beaten Della Maddalena, Makhachev would have likely stayed put at 155, taking on former featherweight king Ilia Topuria this summer.
Alas, it was not meant to be, but that doesn’t mean we won’t one day see Makhachev go toe-to-toe with ‘El Matador’ on MMA’s biggest stage.