Abdelaziz Sparks Firestorm With Nurmagomedov-Topuria Claim
The war of words between the camp of Ilia Topuria and Team Khabib intensified sharply after manager Malki Kawa fired back at Ali Abdelaziz over potential matchups in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The verbal sparring erupted following remarks from Abdelaziz regarding an anticipated promotional jump for undefeated Professional Fighters League star Usman Nurmagomedov.
Abdelaziz, who represents top-tier lightweights including Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Usman Nurmagomedov, initially floated Topuria’s name as a logical adversary for Usman if the Dagestani fighter moves to the UFC.
Pound4Pound Podcast Sparks Bold Predictions
Appearing on the Pound4Pound podcast, Abdelaziz asserted clear supremacy for his fighter, predicting that Usman would make Topuria submit, strike him, kick him, and ultimately secure a knockout victory.
That bold prediction drew an immediate, unfiltered rebuke from Kawa, who manages Topuria. Responding directly to the challenge, Kawa did not mince words during a fiery exchange regarding the current roster landscape.
Kawa Fires Back at Team Khabib
«Shut your mouth. Ilia Topuria would annihilate 100% of your roster», Kawa stated.
The fiery discourse highlights how rapidly high-level promotional dynamics can shift outside the cage. With Usman Nurmagomedov having recently completed his latest contractual obligation as an undefeated champion in the PFL, speculation surrounding his next career move has accelerated. Abdelaziz made no secret of his intentions, pointing directly to Topuria—widely known as El Matador—as the preferred opponent for Usman’s prospective promotional debut under Dana White.
Addressing the Gaethje Defeat at UFC Freedom 250
However, Kawa dismissed that result as an anomaly rather than an indictment of his fighter’s true capabilities within the division. Defending his fighter’s status, Kawa insisted that a rematch would yield a drastically different outcome, maintaining that Topuria remains the top-ranked fighter in the world despite the setback.
Future Booking Carries Immense Pre-Fight Weight
Topuria continues to recover from the physical toll of the Gaethje bout, while Usman Nurmagomedov navigates his contractual future.
Although the rivalry has yet to manifest inside an official UFC cage, the war of words outside of competition ensures that any future booking between the two camps will carry immense pre-fight narrative weight.
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