Islam Makhachev Throws Massive Shade at Ilia Topuria After Justin Gaethje Loss

Justin Gaethje just threw a major wrench in the UFC's plans.

The 37-year-old American handed 29-year-old Ilia Topuria the first loss of his professional MMA career on Sunday at UFC Freedom 250, retiring the former lightweight champion on his stool at the end of Round 4 to win the UFC undisputed lightweight championship (Gaethje was previously the interim champion).

While Gaethje was celebrating the biggest win of his career, the UFC brass was likely trying to figure out its next move as Topuria's loss squashed any hope of a super fight between himself and UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.

That bout was being targeted after the UFC Freedom 250 card - possibly for an end-o-the-year event - and was supposed to be arguably the company's biggest champion-versus-champion fight since Georges St. Pierre vs. B.J. Penn at UFC 94 back in 2009.

While the UFC matchmakers and fans alike were disappointed in Topuria's fall from grace on Sunday, so too was Makhachev, who took to X to take a shot at the former champion while he was already down.

"To quit in the biggest fight of your career – is something not everybody can do. Real Le Layenda 😃," Makhachev posted on X.

A Makhachev vs. Topuria fight would have no doubt been a rating dream.

Until Sunday, Topuria was riding a 17-fight unbeaten streak to start his career with dominating wins over former champions Charles Oliveira, Max Halloway, Alexander Volkanovski, and Josh Emmett.

Conversely, Makhachev, who has just one loss in his pro career, is riding a 16-fight unbeaten streak with wins over Volkanovski (twice), Oliveria, Arman Tsrukyan, Dan Hooker, Renato Moicano, and Jack Della Maddalena.

All hope for a Makhachev vs. Topuria super fight isn't lost, however.

Both fighters have made it clear they don't like one another, and the trash talking that's gone on for the last few months will keep the rivalry going as long as both are in the UFC.

Topuria will likely face a six-month or greater layoff after the beating he took from Gaethje, but a win in his next fight - whenever it happens - should be enough to put him right back in title contention and could perfectly line up a bout against Makhachev sometime in 2027.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 12:41 PM.