Colby Covington Believes He Knows Who Can Stop Islam Makhachev, And It’s Not a Welterweight

In the ever-spinning carousel of MMA hot takes, Colby Covington has just thrown another log on the fire. When “Chaos” Covington speaks, people listen—sometimes with a cringe, sometimes with a nod, but always with interest. This time, the topic is the seemingly unstoppable force that is Islam Makhachev, and Covington, with his trademark blend of insight and… well, Covington-ness, has an opinion that might just make you scratch your head before you see the logic.

Islam Makhachev is a problem. Let’s just get that out of the way. His grappling is the stuff of nightmares for anyone standing across the octagon. He’s like a human straitjacket, wrapping up opponents with a relentless, suffocating pressure that has seen him dominate the lightweight division and, in this hypothetical timeline, even snatch the welterweight crown. After a grueling (and fictional) win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, the question on everyone’s mind is: who on Earth can stop this guy?

Enter Colby Covington. You might expect him to nominate himself for the job, and to be fair, he probably thinks he could do it. But in a recent chat with The Schmo, Covington looked past the usual suspects in his own welterweight division and pointed to a much smaller, but arguably just as ferocious, fighter.

What Did Colby Covington Say About Makhachev?

According to Covington, the secret to beating Makhachev isn’t some complex, newly-invented martial art. It’s old-school grit. It’s about turning the fight into a scrap, something Alexander Volkanovski managed to do with surprising success in their first encounter. The game plan? Stuff the takedowns and make Makhachev stand and trade. Simple, right? But finding someone with the wrestling defense and raw power to pull it off is the million-dollar question.

Covington’s answer? “I think Topuria is the perfect fight for him,” he stated. “I think that fight needs to happen.”

Yes, you read that right. Ilia “El Matador” Topuria, the current featherweight champion.

“Topuria has a low center of gravity, so he’s going to be very hard to take down,” Covington explained. “When [Makhachev] is not taking him down, [Topuria] is going to be punching him with all he’s got. So, I’m hoping that the UFC makes that fight next.”

It’s a take that’s both a little wild and strangely compelling. Covington is essentially suggesting that the antidote to Makhachev’s smothering Sambo is a compact, powerful brawler with a low-slung base and dynamite in his hands. He’s not wrong about Topuria’s build. The guy is built like a fire hydrant, and his takedown defense is a cornerstone of his game, allowing him to keep the fight where he can unleash his devastating boxing. The mental image of Makhachev struggling to take down a fighter who is giving up significant size but has the perfect anti-wrestling build is certainly intriguing.

Can Ilia Topuria Actually Beat Islam Makhachev?

Now, let’s get into the fun part: the speculation. Topuria seems more than happy to play along with this narrative. After Makhachev’s (fictional) victory, Topuria didn’t waste any time taking to social media to throw some shade. He called Makhachev the “most boring thing in this game” and confidently predicted, “Every day, I’m more certain I put you to sleep.”

The confidence is certainly there. Topuria believes his power is the great equalizer, an “emotion” that Makhachev can’t train for. He has made it clear he would happily chase Makhachev up to 170 pounds for a super-fight, and with Covington now planting the seed, the idea is gaining momentum.

But is it realistic? Topuria would be giving up a lot of size and reach against a natural lightweight who has theoretically proven he can hang with welterweights. While his low center of gravity is an advantage, Makhachev’s wrestling isn’t just about raw strength; it’s about technique, leverage, and relentless chain wrestling. Still, the image of Topuria stuffing takedown after takedown and turning the fight into a phone-booth brawl is a tantalizing prospect for fans. It’s the classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but with the added spice of two champions at the absolute peak of their powers.

For now, this all lives in the realm of fantasy matchmaking and Colby Covington’s unique brand of fight analysis. But in the unpredictable world of the UFC, stranger things have happened. One thing is for sure: Covington has once again got the MMA world talking, and whether you agree with him or not, the idea of a Makhachev vs. Topuria superfight is suddenly one of the most exciting “what ifs” in the sport.