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Ilia Topuria says Islam Makhachev fight ‘has to happen’ but is not ‘under my control’

Published April 8, 2026 · Updated April 8, 2026 · Yahoo Sport

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria insists a bout with Islam Makhachev is inevitable but admits the scheduling is out of his hands.

Topuria stated that the matchup is "a fight that everyone wants to see" and "has to happen," but he defers to the UFC's decision-making process regarding the future of the lightweight division.

Despite the desire for the title unification, Topuria is currently focused on his upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje on June 11th at the UFC White House event. He clarified that he was never offered a fight with Arman Tsarukyan and dismissed claims he priced himself out of the Makhachev bout, citing a reported injury to the champion.

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