UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has unleashed a scathing critique of former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, accusing him of seeking an undeserved title shot against lightweight king Islam Makhachev. The heated comments, made during a fiery interview with MMA Fighting on April 24, 2025, have reignited tensions in the UFC lightweight division, with Muhammad arguing that Topuria’s push for a championship bout is premature and disrespectful to the sport’s merit-based system.

Muhammad’s Fiery Rebuke

Belal Muhammad, known for his loyalty to Team Khabib and his close friendship with Makhachev, didn’t hold back when addressing Topuria’s campaign for a lightweight title shot. “He gave up his belt and hasn’t earned a lightweight shot,” Muhammad stated bluntly. “Let him beat someone like Oliveira first. Islam isn’t ducking—he’s asking for merit. You don’t jump the line after one fight at 155.” Topuria, who vacated his featherweight title earlier this year to move up to 155 pounds, has been vocal about his desire to challenge Makhachev, even claiming the UFC promised him a title shot. However, Muhammad sees this as an overreach, emphasizing that Topuria needs to prove himself in the new division before earning such a high-stakes opportunity.

Muhammad’s frustration stems from Topuria’s lack of experience at lightweight. “We’ve seen him get dropped by Jai Herbert. We’ve seen him get taken down by Bryce Mitchell,” Muhammad pointed out, referencing Topuria’s earlier fights. “If Islam gets on top of you, takes you down, you’re not getting back up.” He argues that a fight with Makhachev offers little for the lightweight champion to gain, especially given the criticism Makhachev has faced for previous wins over featherweights like Alexander Volkanovski. “If Islam dominates him, they’ll just say, ‘Oh, he’s a ‘45er, he can go back down.’ There’s really nothing to gain for Islam,” Muhammad added.

A Lightweight Division in Chaos

The lightweight division has been in a state of flux, with Topuria’s move to 155 pounds creating a logjam of contenders. After vacating his featherweight title, Topuria announced his intention to challenge for the lightweight belt, a move that sparked immediate speculation about a superfight with Makhachev. However, Makhachev and his team, including mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, have been resistant, insisting that Topuria should first face a top contender like Charles Oliveira to earn his shot. This sentiment is echoed by Muhammad, who believes Topuria’s immediate title push undermines the hard work of other fighters in the division, such as Arman Tsarukyan, who has been waiting for his own crack at the belt.

Adding to the complexity, Makhachev has been contemplating a move to welterweight, particularly if Muhammad loses his title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10, 2025. This potential shift has left the lightweight division in limbo, with contenders like Oliveira, Tsarukyan, and now Topuria vying for position. Despite Topuria’s claims of a promised title shot, recent reports suggest that Makhachev is more likely to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 317 in June, further delaying Topuria’s ambitions.

Topuria’s Bold Claims and Past Tensions

Topuria, known for his brash confidence, has not shied away from stirring the pot. In recent months, he has taken aim at both Makhachev and Muhammad, even calling the welterweight champion a “fake champion” and claiming that a fight with him would be “easy.” During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience on April 17, 2025, Topuria doubled down, stating, “If Belal remains champion, it would be a walk in the park for me to go up and win the welterweight title… he’s a bum.” These comments prompted a sharp response from Muhammad, who warned Topuria on October 16, 2024, via ChampRDS on X: “If you want to talk to me in person and you want to get slapped around, you could get slapped around.”

The bad blood between Muhammad and Topuria isn’t new. Posts on X from late 2024 show Muhammad repeatedly cautioning Topuria against provoking Makhachev, with one post from October 5, 2024, stating, “Be careful what you wish for… you don’t want to mess with Islam and them. It’s different there.” Topuria, however, has remained undeterred, even accusing Nurmagomedov of protecting Makhachev out of fear. On April 16, 2025, Topuria tweeted, “Khabib knows I’m the one to take the belt from Islam. Only reason he doesn’t want Islam to fight me,” a claim that has only fueled the ongoing debate.

The Bigger Picture: Merit vs. Marketability

Muhammad’s stance highlights a broader tension in the UFC between merit and marketability. While Topuria’s star power and undefeated record make him a lucrative draw, his lack of lightweight experience has drawn criticism from fighters like Muhammad, who had to endure a grueling path to his own title shot. “I think Ilia definitely needs to fight somebody before he gets the title shot,” Muhammad reiterated on Submission Radio on April 24, 2025. “It’s not really worth it for Islam to give another 145er a chance because no matter what happens, people are gonna hate on Islam and Team Khabib.”

On the other hand, some in the MMA community argue that Topuria’s bold move to lightweight deserves a chance to shine. UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre expressed excitement for a potential Makhachev-Topuria matchup on April 28, 2025, calling it “a great fight for the fans” due to the clash of styles. Topuria’s knockout power and Makhachev’s elite grappling could indeed create a blockbuster event, but the question remains whether Topuria has done enough to earn that opportunity.

What’s Next for Topuria and Makhachev?

As of May 1, 2025, Topuria’s path to a title shot remains uncertain. While he announced the start of his training camp on April 22, 2025, via a tweet—“the camp has begun”—it’s unclear whether he’ll face Makhachev, Oliveira, or another contender at International Fight Week on June 28. Makhachev, meanwhile, appears focused on his upcoming defense against Gaethje, as reported by Chael Sonnen on April 25, 2025. If Makhachev does move to welterweight after UFC 315, Topuria could find himself in a title fight against Oliveira for a vacated or interim belt, a scenario that has been floated by multiple sources.

For now, Belal Muhammad’s words serve as a stark reminder of the UFC’s competitive hierarchy. Topuria’s ambition may be admirable, but in the eyes of many, including the welterweight champion, he has yet to prove he belongs at the front of the lightweight title queue. As the drama unfolds, one thing is certain: the lightweight division remains one of the most chaotic and captivating in the UFC.