“It sounds like a lie to me, because I know the truth. First of all, one athlete shouldn't care what another athlete asks for. I don't count anyone else's money. He had excuses once; now he has excuses a second time. It definitely looks [like he's running away]”

– via El Hormiguero, responding to Islam Makhachev’s claims that a superfight at the White House fell apart due to Topuria’s "unrealistic" financial demands.

“That's the dream for everybody. It was in his destiny to have this belt, and now everybody has the opportunity to see if he is the real champion of the world or if he just won a ticket from Willy Wonka”

– via The Ariel Helwani Show, reflecting on losing his flyweight title to Joshua Van and questioning the legitimacy of the new champion’s reign.