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'What Will That Do for Me?' - Islam Makhachev 'Not Interested' in Another Double-Champ Fight

Islam Makhachev wants to cement his legacy against heavier opponents.

Mathew Riddle

IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

If Islam Makhachev is to cement his legacy as the greatest UFC lightweight in history, he'd at least like to do it by fighting lightweights.

The UFC double champion hype might have run its course with the belt changing hands at welterweight and middleweight, but this hasn't stopped fans from entertaining a fight between Makhachev and current featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

Islam Makhachev sweeping Dustin Poirier
Getty Images

'We'll Fight if We Have To': Makhachev 'Not Interested' in Topuria 'at All'

Despite only defending his title once, Topuria has gone as far as to say he'd be the first man to submit Makhachev in a professional fight. Safe to say, 'El Matador' has his sights set on Makhachev, but the feeling might not be mutual.

"We'll fight if we have to," Makhachev told MatchTV. "In terms of my fighting career, I'm not interested in fighting Topuria at all. He's in a different weight class. I'll beat him, and what will that do for me?

"I won't win another belt. Everyone will once again say that I beat a featherweight. That's it."

Makhachev is en route to breaking the record for lightweight title defenses. He is currently tied with Khabib Nurmagomedov at three. The key points of contention with his reign are his fights with then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and their eligibility as true lightweight tests.

He'll have the opportunity not only to make lightweight history, but legitimize his place at the top in his next fight, which is rumored to be a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan in the new year.

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Mathew Riddle
MATHEW RIDDLE

Mathew is a UK-based combat sports journalist, graphic designer, and SEO expert with over five years of experience in digital marketing and a dedicated four-year track record in MMA journalism. He joined MMAKO in 2023. Mathew's insights have been featured on The Fight Fanatic, Heavy on UFC, Fansided, and Sportskeeda. Reach him at mr@thefightfanatic.com.

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