Joe Rogan Calls for Superfight: Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria Over Welterweight Plans

In the wake of UFC 317, renowned commentator Joe Rogan is pushing for a blockbuster showdown between newly crowned lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and former lightweight king Islam Makhachev—urging the UFC to prioritize this fight over Makhachev's planned welterweight title challenge.

Topuria (17-0) delivered a sensational performance in the UFC 317 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he knocked out former champion Charles Oliveira (35-11) to capture the vacant lightweight belt. The title was up for grabs following Makhachev’s decision to vacate it in pursuit of welterweight gold.

Islam Makhachev, widely regarded as one of the pound-for-pound best in the sport, is currently preparing for a leap to 170 pounds, where he’s expected to challenge current champion Jack Della Maddalena. However, Rogan believes the UFC should delay those plans in favor of a compelling champion-vs-former-champion bout at 155 pounds.

“I think Islam is the fight,” Rogan declared during the UFC 317 broadcast. “If I'm the matchmaker, I'm calling Islam. I'm like, 'Look: Jack Della, that's a lot of fun. That's fun and everything. But come on.' Maybe when they call him up and they say, 'Is there a number? Is there a number we can do?'”

Rogan, known for his influential voice in the MMA community, emphasized that Makhachev vs. Topuria isn’t just a high-level contest—it’s a must-see global event. He even expressed his willingness to go overseas to witness the spectacle, suggesting Spain, Topuria’s adopted homeland, as an ideal location for the matchup.

"He's a superstar," Rogan said of Topuria. "I might have to go to Spain. I might have to go to Spain. I've always wanted to go to Spain, anyways. Let's go to Spain. I mean, Islam and him in Spain: Come on. Come on."

Rogan elaborated on why this fight would be so captivating. According to him, Makhachev’s elite grappling and strength pose a serious challenge for any opponent, even one as skilled and confident as Topuria. While Topuria has shown elite striking, as evidenced in his performance against Oliveira, Makhachev brings a different kind of dominance to the octagon.

“But with Islam, you're dealing with a completely different level of strength and grappling – complete different level,” Rogan explained. “And striking – (his) striking is elite. But the physical strength and the grappling, when Islam gets guys to the ground, he squishes them. They get squished.”

This potential superfight would not only feature two of the most technically complete fighters in the sport, but also represent a true clash of styles: Makhachev’s smothering Sambo-based ground game against Topuria’s dynamic and powerful striking. It also offers the storyline of Topuria trying to solidify his reign against the division’s former king, while Makhachev looks to reclaim what he never lost in the cage.

Though Makhachev’s welterweight ambition remains intact, Rogan’s passionate pitch adds fuel to the fan-driven narrative of seeing the best face the best—before weight classes become barriers. Whether or not the UFC brass will heed Rogan’s advice remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria has the makings of an all-time classic.