Big fight talk is already heating up for UFC’s June 14 event at the White House, where Ilia Topuria is scheduled to face interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of the promotion’s historic Independence Day anniversary showcase. Even with that assignment looming, Topuria has openly discussed a possible matchup with Islam Makhachev and said he sees a path to shocking the sport by submitting him.
That claim lands with extra force because Makhachev has long been viewed by American fans and media as one of the most complete fighters in the UFC, especially in grappling-heavy matchups. Topuria, meanwhile, has built his reputation as an unbeaten pressure fighter with real knockout power, so framing a Makhachev fight around a takedown-and-submission prediction adds another layer to the hype.
Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s podcast, Topuria said that whenever he gets the chance to face an elite opponent, he starts thinking about how he can surprise the entire world. In Makhachev’s case, he said the way to do that would be to choke him out. Topuria said he expects to take him down and force a submission, while acknowledging that many people will doubt that scenario until it actually happens.
From a divisional standpoint, the stakes are obvious. If Topuria beats Gaethje in June, the pressure for a super fight with Makhachev only grows, and UFC would have a legitimate champion-vs.-champion blockbuster on its hands. If he loses, the lightweight picture gets crowded in a hurry and the conversation shifts back to contenders waiting in line.
There is also a narrative test here for both men. Topuria is trying to prove his confidence is more than promotion and that his game translates against elite wrestlers. Makhachev, if the fight ever happens, would be defending not just a belt but the aura that has made him one of the pound-for-pound standard-bearers in the sport.
For now, the immediate focus is UFC’s White House event, where Topuria meets Gaethje on June 14 in a bout tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence — and if he wins in style, the noise around Makhachev will only get louder.