UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show and made a statement that sent shockwaves through the MMA world — he plans to beat Islam Makhachev by submission. On the very ground where Makhachev is considered the best in the world.

Topuria (17-0) is returning to the Octagon after a year-long layoff. On June 14, 2026, at the historic UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House — staged on the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump and as part of the 250th-anniversary celebration of the United States — he will defend his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje. But "El Matador" already has his eyes on what comes next.

Why the Makhachev Fight Fell Apart

On Helwani's show, Topuria revealed how things unfolded behind the scenes. The UFC gave him two options for the White House event — Makhachev or Gaethje.

"We said we want Islam because it's a bigger fight. Then, the day before they were about to announce the event, they called me in the middle of the night, woke me up and told me, 'Islam is injured. Something happened with his hand. You are going to fight Justin.'"

UFC CEO Dana White has publicly supported Topuria's version, saying at the UFC 326 post-fight press conference that Makhachev was originally in discussion for the White House event but pulled out with a hand injury.

But Makhachev has a completely different version. He wrote on X:

"I'm tired of hearing made-up stories from Topuria and his team. I got the call and accepted the fight at the White House. The next day, I was told he asked for an unrealistic purse. The UFC declined, and he pulled out. That's it nothing more to it. Even his manager confirmed it. Ilia, stop talking. Every interview you give tells a different story. You pulled out, and you know it."

The "manager" part is awkward for Topuria. His own representative, Malki Kawa of First Round Management, told the Anik & Florian Podcast that initial talks with the UFC broke down because the promotion's financial offer was too low — a sentiment that aligns with Makhachev's account.

Why Submission

Topuria could have avoided this conversation entirely. Instead, he made what might be the boldest claim in recent UFC history.

"When I get the opportunity to fight someone, I always think about what I can do to really shock the world. With Islam, to shock the world, I have to submit him. And I think that's what's gonna happen. I'm gonna take him down, and I'm gonna submit him."

Topuria acknowledged how that sounds.

"I know that inside yourself, maybe it sounds a little bit weird, like strange — 'How are you gonna take him down, how are you gonna submit him?' But don't be surprised when you see that happen. He's good, everyone is good. Justin is good. Alex is good. Charles is good. Max is good."

The names mentioned at the end — Justin Gaethje, Alexander Volkanovski, Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway — are not casual. Topuria has either beaten them all (Volkanovski, Holloway and Oliveira are his three biggest title-fight wins), or is about to face them. The "I'm different" subtext is impossible to miss.

The opponent he is calling out, meanwhile, is no ordinary champion. Makhachev (28-1) is the current UFC No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, the former lightweight king with four successful title defences, and now the welterweight champion after dominating Jack Della Maddalena over five rounds at UFC 322 in November 2025.

The Third Belt — A UFC First

Topuria's plan is clear — Gaethje first, then Makhachev. If he beats both, he becomes champion in three different weight classes — featherweight (which he held after knocking out Volkanovski and defeating Holloway), lightweight (which he holds now after knocking out Oliveira at UFC 317), and welterweight (where Makhachev currently reigns).

It would make Topuria the first three-division champion in UFC history. Conor McGregor, B.J. Penn, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Amanda Nunes — all stopped at two.

"My goal as a sportsman is always to achieve great things. What bigger thing can you achieve than collecting the third belt?"

According to Topuria, the UFC has agreed to let him keep the lightweight title if he moves up to welterweight — unlike when he left featherweight and had the belt stripped. The UFC has not officially confirmed this; it remains his account.

Gaethje First

Before dreaming about Makhachev, Topuria has to get through Gaethje. The interim champion claimed his title by outpointing Paddy Pimblett over five bloody rounds at UFC 324 in January 2026.

According to BetMGM, Topuria is a -1000 favourite — a historically massive gap.

"If he's not going to start walking backward, I'm going to knock him out in the first round," Topuria said about Gaethje.

The card around them is one of the most ambitious in the promotion's 32-year history, with returns from Alex Pereira, Bo Nickal and Michael Chandler also booked.

June 14, the White House, Washington D.C. The 80th birthday of a president, the 250th birthday of a country, and a 17-0 Georgian-Spaniard chasing a piece of UFC history that no one has ever held.