Makhachev continues to keep fans guessing.
Michael
Morales recently met up with Ilia
Topuria in Madrid, Spain. Both Morales and Topuria are
potential opponents for Makhachev. The welterweight champion had a
cryptic response to a photo of Morales and Topuria posing together.
Makhachev responded with a telephone emoji, hinting at a potential
matchup between one of the two next.
Makhachev (28-1) and Topuria (17-0) have long been on a collision
course. Topuria was the featherweight champion when he started
calling for a lightweight title shot against then-champion
Makhachev, who eventually moved up to welterweight. Topuria also
subsequently moved up to lightweight and won the title. A matchup
between Topuria and Makhachev was rumored to be the original plan
for the White House card in June. However, Topuria is now scheduled
to defend his title against interim champion Justin
Gaethje at
UFC White House on June 14.
A More Likely Option
With Makhachev expected to return this summer, the chances of a
clash against Topuria seem bleak. Meanwhile, Makhachev manager Ali
Abdelaziz has promised that the Dagestani champ will defend his
title against a real welterweight next. This means Makhachev’s
cryptic reaction is likely hinting at a matchup against Morales
next. Morales (19-0) laid claim to contender status by knocking out
Sean
Brady at UFC 322
this past November. The undefeated Ecuadorian has finished five of
his seven
UFC wins so far.