Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousin Dismisses Ilia Topuria as Lightweight No. 1: “He Did Only One Fight”
Usman Nurmagomedov has been honest about where he stands in the lightweight pecking order, admitting that as long as Islam Makhachev was competing at 155 pounds, there was never any doubt about who ruled the division. Once Makhachev decided to test himself at welterweight, however, it left a huge void at the top of lightweight that the UFC quickly moved to fill. And despite Ilia Topuria being now the lightweight champ and Pound for Pound no.1, he still doesn’t see him as the best.
Topuria delivered a statement-making knockout of Charles Oliveira in June that had everyone talking. Just like that, Topuria found himself holding gold in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions – an impressive feat by any measure, who KO’ed legends like Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski as well. Still, Nurmagomedov isn’t buying into all the hype just yet.
He said, “Come on, Ilia Topuria, how he can be lightweight No. 1 in the world? He cannot be. He did only one fight. I have 19 fights in lightweight [division]. I beat former champions. I beat champions. I think my resume is better than him. How many fights does he have? 14? I have 14 finishes in my career.”
Usman Nurmagomedov claims he has a better lightweight resume than Ilia Topuria and says he’ll become the best lightweight if he beats Paul Hughes in the rematch.
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 3, 2025
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Topuria’s knockout was spectacular, but Usman sees things through the lens of his own journey. He’s built an impressive resume across Bellator and PFL, staying undefeated while collecting scalps from current and former champions along the way.
In his mind, one big win even against someone as respected as Oliveira doesn’t automatically make anyone the king of the mountain. Meanwhile, apart from UFC fighters, boxers have also called him out.
Conor Benn Challenges Ilia Topuria to Step Into The Boxing Ring
Benn made it clear that boxing is not easy and UFC fighters should not think it is. He is open to facing Ilia Topuria in the ring and wants to prove himself with his hands. Benn also said he has no interest in MMA, as the cage is not his world. For him, boxing is where he belongs and where he shows his strength.
Ilia Topuria has followed a path similar to Conor McGregor, capturing two titles and showing the same bold attitude outside the cage. Now, boxer Conor Benn has called him out. The big question is whether Topuria will agree and step into the boxing ring, just as McGregor once did.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousin Dismisses Ilia Topuria as Lightweight No. 1: “He Did Only One Fight”
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