Renato Moicano Drops a Bombshell: “Topuria Will Defeat Makhachev”… Is a New Era Approaching in the UFC?
In a surprising statement, Brazilian fighter Renato Moicano predicted that Spanish-Georgian star Ilia Topuria would defeat Islam Makhachev if the two were to meet in the Octagon. Moicano’s comment goes beyond a mere prediction—it reflects a potential shift in the balance of power at the top of the UFC’s lightweight division.
Topuria (16-0), the undefeated featherweight champion, recently decided to vacate his 145-pound title and move up to lightweight. His ambition? To face the reigning champion, Islam Makhachev, and claim a second belt. However, with Makhachev reportedly considering a move up to welterweight following his friend Belal Muhammad’s loss to Jack Della Maddalena, the timing of this potential super fight remains uncertain.
For now, Topuria is set to face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira on June 28 at UFC 317 in Las Vegas. This fight could serve as a litmus test to see if “El Matador” is ready to challenge the elite in the new weight class.
Moicano, who faced Makhachev in January and lost by submission in the first round, still believes that Topuria has what it takes to conquer the Dagestani champion. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s show, Moicano stated:
“I believe Ilia Topuria will beat Islam Makhachev. Knocking out Alexander Volkanovski is no small feat. Volkanovski was dominant in his last performance against a very dangerous fighter [Diego Lopes], and he looked like his old self. Add to that Topuria’s boxing, head movement, and wrestling—he has the complete package.”
This analysis is not without precedent. Earlier this year, Max Holloway moved up to lightweight and delivered a stunning knockout win over Justin Gaethje, only to return to featherweight and suffer a knockout loss at the hands of Topuria. This victory highlighted Topuria’s versatility and his capacity to handle elite opponents in both divisions.
As for Moicano, he is set to face Beneil Dariush at UFC 317, looking to continue climbing the ranks. His belief in Topuria’s potential to disrupt the current order in the lightweight division adds to the growing anticipation surrounding the Spanish-Georgian’s next steps.
