“If this Ilia fight was offered in June, Islam would accept even if he has one leg. But Islam already has a fight in the summer against the No.1 contender, it’s a done deal, and the UFC will announce it very soon”

– via TMZ Sports, confirming that Islam Makhachev’s first welterweight title defense is finalized for this summer

“Just to be clear, @Justin_Gaethje is fighting next for the undisputed lightweight title and if Topuria doesn’t want then Justin will fight for the undisputed title against whoever is next. If Islam wants to give Topuria this a** whooping, then he will be the one who will choose where and when, but Islam’s next fight will definitely be against a real welterweight”

– via X, drawing a line in the sand regarding the future of his two champions, Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje.

“Just to be clear, @Justin_Gaethje is fighting next for the undisputed lightweight title and if Topuria doesn’t want then Justin will fight for the undisputed title against whoever is next. If Islam wants to give Topuria this a** whooping, then he will be the one who will choose where and when, but Islam’s next fight will definitely be against a real welterweight”

– via X, drawing a line in the sand regarding the future of his two champions, Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje.

“The math doesn't add up for me. He's not the guy people think he is... Kamaru Usman is Islam Makhachev's toughest fight”

– via MMA Junkie, shutting down the Ian Garry title hype while stoking the flames for a legacy clash with Kamaru Usman

“UFC reached out to me, they were asking [Islam] to fight a main event in january. He thought about it, and khabib said 'hey, shut up'. Honestly, kamaru's name was in the mix for january. Ian garry's name was in the mix too.”

– via MMA Junkie, revealing that the UFC offered Islam Makhachev a January main event fight, with Kamaru Usman and Ian Garry floated as potential opponents, before Khabib Nurmagomedov advised him to decline.

“UFC reached out to me, they were asking [Islam] to fight a main event in january. He thought about it, and khabib said 'hey, shut up'. Honestly, kamaru's name was in the mix for january. Ian garry's name was in the mix too.”

– via MMA Junkie, revealing that the UFC offered Islam Makhachev a January main event fight, with Kamaru Usman and Ian Garry floated as potential opponents, before Khabib Nurmagomedov advised him to decline.

“But, in reality, this is not about me and Alex. This is about Magomed Ankalaev and Alex. Alex was the best man on Saturday night. And we take our losses like men....But, all along, I thought Magomed Ankalaev will beat him. And he already beat him once. And I believe, if they fight again, Magomed Ankalaev will beat him. There's a lot of things happened with Ankalaev in his camp...If it was up to me, he should never have fought this time. But he's a grown man, he makes his own decisions, and he lives by his actions. But for now, this is all I have to say. Congratulations to Alex and his team. Life goes on”