“Silently lethal, secretly hilarious!” This phrase perfectly captures how Islam Makhachev combines his Dagestani wrestling genes with his understated humor that fans often see glimpses of outside the Octagon. The lightweight kingpin has gained a reputation as the “master of dry humor.” His comedic side shines brightly in his collaborations with Daniel Cormier. Their conversations have given MMA fans unforgettable punchlines that still stick, much like Makhachev’s witty and funny advice. One of his most memorable moments came when he jokingly shared his ‘ultimate parenting advice’ to the former double champ: “If you want your son to have high-level wrestling, send him 2-3 years Dagestani and forget.”

The 155lbs champ highlighted Dagestan’s renowned reputation for producing world-class wrestlers. When ‘DC’ hilariously rejected the offer, Makhachev tried an old-school negotiation skit. “Six months, one time you can call him.” This humorous bit of advice quickly went viral, and to everyone’s surprise, a parent from Spain took it to heart. Gonzalo Martin, a teenager, became the first to take Makhachev’s advice seriously. His parents sent him to Dagestan with hopes of shaping him into a world-class fighter under ‘Team Khabib.’

The plot took an unexpected twist when Islam Makhachev shared a video of Martin, speaking in broken English, saying, “First guy to come to Dagestan… 2-3 years send him to Dagestan.” But here’s the kicker: Martin also has ties to the soon-to-be former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, as pictures surfaced online suggesting they trained together. And in light of the tumultuous landscape at 155lbs with Topuria waiting for his shot at Makhachev, things seem interesting!

Although the fight’s future is still unclear, Martin has swiftly become a “spy” sent by Topuria in the eyes of MMA fans, all while providing some light-hearted entertainment. In another viral video posted by Team Khabib member Saygid Izagakhmaev, Islam Makhachev tests his new choking skills on Martin, giving the young fighter a hard time on the mat. The caption, “Islam just found out he trains with Topuria,” only adds to the growing speculation and intensifies the fight rumors. However, it appears that ‘El Matador’ may not have an easy path to sharing the Octagon with the reigning lightweight champion.

A recent update from ‘TASS Sports’ reported that Makhachev is not interested in offering the Spaniard  an immediate title shot, particularly since Topuria has not fought in the lightweight division for some time. The 155lbs champ maintains that Topuria must first prove himself by competing against someone from the lightweight division before earning a title shot. As the report states, “Islam has not agreed to this fight. He insists that Topuria needs to earn a title shot at 155.”

The Dagestani has already defeated the “smaller” featherweight contender, Alexander Volkanovski, twice in 2023. Now, if the UFC arranges a fight between Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, and the reigning champion wins—making it a third featherweight contender—this could invite criticism. Khabib Nurmagomedov has suggested that such a scenario would lead “people to talk bad” about Makhachev.

He also noted that promoting a fight between Islam Makhachev and the featherweight contender would be “unfair” to other 155lbs contenders who have been patiently waiting for their shot. However, a UFC legend has a different take on the matter. Let’s take a closer look.

Michael Bisping sends a word of caution to Dana White on Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev

Despite reigning as the lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has his reservations about facing another featherweight. However, senior combat sports journalist Kevin Iole recently shared his perspective, stating, “The bout between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev would be the biggest non-Conor McGregor fight the UFC has ever put on.” Earlier this month, Iole emphasized the significant fan appeal both fighters hold, which could potentially rival the landmark UFC 229, where Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov faced off. That event reportedly generated $180 million from 2.4 million pay-per-view sales.

UFC legend Michael Bisping also sees the financial stakes. In a recent YouTube video, ‘The Count’ cautioned that not booking the fight could result in a missed market opportunity. He said, “Granted, Ilia is special, but if he lost to them, there’s a massive market opportunity lost there, because Ilia vs. Islam – Ilia with the rise, Ilia still being in a lot of people’s minds as the featherweight champion against the lightweight champion – there’s something there.”

As Ilia Topuria swiftly builds his brand, much like his former idol, Conor McGregor, with his distinctive tattoos, moves, and charisma, he’s positioning himself as a potential UFC superstar. Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev, akin to his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, remains a steadfast and reliable long-term contender in the division.

So, what’s your take on the potential matchup between Ilia Topuria and Makhachev? Do you think Dana White & Co. will seize the opportunity to make it the next big fight, or will this chance slip away? Share your thoughts below.