Ilia Topuria has ignited a fierce rivalry with Islam Makhachev and his camp, fueled by the UFC featherweight champion’s unwavering belief that he can dethrone the Russian lightweight king. In a dramatic turn of events, Topuria’s recent comments led to a heated exchange with Makhachev’s teammate, Usman Nurmagomedov, escalating their feud into a full-blown war of words.

During an Instagram live session, Topuria confidently asserted that he’s ready to face Makhachev inside the octagon. While he acknowledged Makhachev as a “great fighter,” he quipped that a street fight wasn’t feasible, as he’d have to “pay for his medical bills.”

Usman Nurmagomedov didn’t hold back in his response, sharply questioning Topuria’s toughness by asking, “When did you ever fight on the street, European?”

Topuria fired back on X, bringing up Nurmagomedov’s troubled past with performance-enhancing drugs following a failed drug test after Bellator 300: “It has been a long time, to be honest. How are you doing with drugs? Are you still on steroids?”

Nurmagomedov was banned by the California State Athletic Commission after his October 2023 fight, with the outcome overturned to a no-contest. Despite the controversy, he managed to keep his Bellator lightweight title, arguing that a prescription medication was responsible for the failed test, not steroids.

On the other hand, Topuria is gearing up for his title defense against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 on October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This bout is crucial for Topuria as he aims to solidify his position for a potential shot at the lightweight crown.

Makhachev, however, has made it clear that Topuria has significant hurdles to overcome before earning that title shot. He acknowledged Topuria’s skills, particularly in wrestling and boxing, but emphasized that the Spaniard must first navigate his division effectively. Makhachev pointed out that Topuria will need to defeat both Holloway and undefeated contender Movsar Evloev to become a legitimate challenger for the lightweight title.

In an interview with Marca, Makhachev stated, “Ilia is good, yes. I think in my opinion he has good wrestling skills, but he always uses his boxing. And when you have good boxing, your opponent has good boxing, it’s a little bit dangerous. He is good, but his next opponent is Max Holloway. If he beats Max [and] if he beats Movsar Evloev, he can potentially fight for the lightweight championship… He has a big job to do in his division