Daniel Cormier TV - DC CONVINCED Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria superfight is COMING SOON, Khabib on Ilia

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Daniel Cormier TV - DC CONVINCED Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria superfight is COMING SOON, Khabib on Ilia"

The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Original Air Date: August 28, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode of The Herd, Daniel Cormier (DC) breaks down the current landscape of the UFC lightweight division, focusing on the rising momentum for a superfight between Islam Makhachev and new lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Cormier discusses Khabib Nurmagomedov's recent comments regarding the pecking order in the division, analyzes potential matchups, and gives his own perspective on who’s the best at 155 pounds. He also reveals why he believes an Islam vs. Ilia superfight is now more possible than ever.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DC’s Coaching Update & Khabib's Ongoing Legacy

• DC updates listeners about his fight team’s progress, with several fighters poised for UFC opportunities.
• Reflects on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s happiness as coach, especially with Islam Makhachev’s success.

"Another happy coach is my friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, because why wouldn't he be, right? When you are coaching some of the best fighters in the world ... you can ask for nothing more. But there's only one prize pupil of team Khabib, and that's Islam Makhachev."
([03:33])

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2. Khabib’s Views on the Lightweight Hierarchy

• Khabib recently declared Arman Tsarukyan is the best lightweight in the world, not Ilia Topuria.
• Cites Tsarukyan’s improved striking, ability to fight at range, and superior wrestling.
• Doubts Topuria’s chances against Arman, giving a much heavier lean to Tsarukyan.

"When asked straight up who Khabib thought the best lightweight in the world was, he said, without a question. Without a question. It was Arman Tsarukyan."
([04:21])

• Khabib:

"Arman fights too well at range against strikers. He keeps his distance well, works better with his kicks. And now Arman's improved a lot...I believe that right now Arman Tsarukyan is the best lightweight in the world."
([04:50])

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3. DC's Take: Ilia Topuria is Still the Man to Beat

• Cormier strongly disagrees with Khabib's pick, standing by Ilia Topuria as the division's best due to recent dominant performances and current championship status.

"All we've seen Ilia Topuria do is beat people up. And honestly, for as much better as Arman's gotten, Ilia's gotten better too... Topuria has the belt now. And because of that and the way that he looked doing it, Ilia Topuria is the best lightweight in the world to me."
([05:37])

• Cormier uses the example of common opponents, noting how Topuria dispatched Charles Oliveira with relative ease compared to Tsarukyan’s more competitive bout against Charles.

"Common opponents, Ilia Topuria did away with Charles Oliveira... He never looked in the fight with Ilia. And honestly, not many people have."
([06:11])

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4. The Tsarukyan vs Topuria Matchup Debate

• Cormier acknowledges Tsarukyan’s prowess, citing his size and wrestling as dangers for Topuria.
• Notes that Topuria’s real base might be as a grappler, but hasn't seen him tested by a world-class wrestler yet.

"Khabib also said Arman can take people down. That's something we haven't really seen Ilia deal with much. But if I'm being honest, people tell me that Ilia's real base is as a grappler. So I don't know."
([12:53])

• DC questions Khabib’s "80/20" assertion in Tsarukyan’s favor, calling it an exaggeration reserved for legends like Khabib and Jon Jones, not this matchup.

"80/20 is crazy, though. Come on, man. 80/20 is hard when anyone's fighting... I really do disagree with Khabib on that one. That's one that I. There is not a guy in the world that I believe is going to beat Ilia 8 out of 10 times. That's just the truth."
([13:55])

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5. Inside Scoop: Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria Superfight is Heating Up

• Cormier reveals that a fan asked Islam if he'd return to fight Topuria, and Islam responded, "as you wish," signaling new openness to the fight.

"Islam was doing a Q and A the other day. A fan asked him, could you please come back and deal with Ilya Topuria? And Islam said, 'as you wish.' So it feels to me, especially with hearing what I heard from Islam himself, my super fight is with Ilia Topuria and not Hamzat Chimaev."
([15:05])

• DC is convinced that the superfight is closer than ever, and both fighters appear interested.
• Recognizes, however, that both have tough defenses ahead (Islam vs. Jack Della Maddalena; Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett or Arman Tsarukyan).

"Before, we had Ilia talking and Islam kind of no-selling him and ignoring him. Now we have both of them talking, and when they both start talking, that makes for a dynamic that tells us that those guys are maybe about to fight or at least they're open to fighting."
([16:45])

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Notable Quotes

• On Khabib's assessment:

"That's not just Khabib not liking Ilia Topuria. That's not Khabib just saying something that is against the guy that his prize pupil seems to have an issue with. This is a pretty good breakdown."
(Daniel Cormier, [05:02])

• On Topuria's status:

"Ilia Topuria is the best lightweight in the world to me... Just the truth."
(Daniel Cormier, [06:34])

• On 80/20 prediction:

"The only time 80/20 could be thought of in fights has been in the case of Khabib and Jon Jones... To put [Topuria] on the opposite side of that 80/20 is crazy to me."
(Daniel Cormier, [14:12])

• On superfight likelihood:

“It just seems to me like Islam is more and more open to the idea that he's going to fight Ilia Topuria, and I know that Ilia Topuria wants this, so there's more movement in that regard in terms of these guys finally fighting and coming together.”
(Daniel Cormier, [16:20])

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:33 – DC on Khabib’s coaching legacy and Islam’s stardom
• 04:21 – Khabib names Arman Tsarukyan as top lightweight
• 05:37 – DC pushes back, states Topuria is the top lightweight
• 06:11 – Breakdown of Topuria vs. Oliveira and comparative analysis
• 12:53 – Discussing Tsarukyan vs. Topuria skills and styles
• 13:55 – DC strongly disagrees with Khabib’s 80/20 odds
• 15:05 – Islam publicly open to fighting Topuria (“as you wish”)
• 16:45 – Both Islam and Ilia now open and publicly interested; superfight buzz builds

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Memorable Moments

• The banter and respectful argument between DC and Khabib’s analysis, modeling how high-level coaches and fighters debate prospects and styles.
• DC’s inside scoop from Islam’s Q&A, fueling anticipation for one of MMA’s biggest potential matchups.
• Cormier’s passionate defense of Topuria’s capabilities and current champion status, calling the idea that anyone could dominate him "crazy."

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Conclusion

Daniel Cormier delivers a compelling, insider's breakdown of the rapidly shifting dynamics in the UFC lightweight division. He spotlights the potential superfight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, contrasts his own views with those of Khabib Nurmagomedov regarding Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria, and makes it clear that big changes (and big fights) are ahead. For listeners eager for top-level MMA analysis and behind-the-scenes updates, this episode is a must-listen.

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Transcript

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So I've been away a little bit, you know, kind of getting my, my fight team going and everything, and, and we've been working, but I gotta tell you guys, I didn't even imagine that it would go as fast as it has. We got three guys fighting contender series, one guy fighting Noche UFC with so many more on the verge of getting a chance to, to break through and get into the ufc. So very happy coach right now. Another happy coach is my friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, because why wouldn't he be right? When you are coaching some of the best fighters in the world and a great team as a coach, you can ask for nothing more. But there's only one prize pupil of team Khabib, and that's Islam Makhachev. Islam Makhachev is the UFC or was the UFC lightweight champion. Now Islam obviously is fighting for the welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena in New York. If you are to believe what Khabib said at his last sit down. Khabib has a lot of thoughts on not only Islam in his career and influence, but he also has a lot of thoughts on the 155 pound division as a whole. The division that he once ruled with an iron fist, who is now, which is now ruled by the new champion, Ilia Topuria. We have spoke so much about all the confusion at 155, all the issues at lightweight, especially with the new champ and then the old champ Going up and Patty going into the octagon when he wasn't supposed to and all these other things. But when asked straight up who Habib thought the best lightweight in the world was, he said, without a question. Without a question. It was Armand Tsarukian, right? Stating I don't believe that Illy would have much of a chance. He told Kamil Godziev. Championship rounds. Armand fights too well at range against strikers. He keeps his distance well, works better with his kicks. And now Arman's improved a lot. He has footage that he can study and analyze. If they fought three years ago, maybe he would have been cautious. But now you can clearly see what dangers Topuria brings. I believe that right now Arman Tsarukyan is the best lightweight in the world. I understand that. I understand all that he said. Right, because that's not just Habib not liking Ilia Toporia. That's not Khabib just saying something that is against the guy that his prize people seems to have an issue with. This is a pretty good breakdown. Here's where I differentiate from him when it comes to the thought. All we've seen ILI Toporia do is beat people up. And honestly, for as much better as Arman's gotten, Ilia's gotten better too. Now, am I not. I am by no means saying that Arman cannot fight Ilia Topuria, and he might be the best lightweight in the world, but Topuria has the belt now. And because of that and the way that he looked doing it, Iliad Toporia is the best lightweight in the world to me. Why? Because common opponents, I know MMA math doesn't work. And common opponents, Iliad Toporia did away with Charles Oliveira. Say Charles Oliveira fought the wrong fight, whatever, but he had moments against Armand Tsarukian. He never looked in the fight with Ilia. And honestly, not many people have. Max Holloway fought well at the beginning of the first round. Josh Emmett had no chance. He just got beat on the whole time. Very few people. The worst we saw was when the kid from England, Jai Herbert, dropped Ilia. But then ultimately he got up and he finished him. Topuri is tough. He's very, very good. So that's where I disagree, but for the most part, I do agree with his assessment. Armand's much better today than he was before. Armand has improved tremendously. Arman's big and physical, so that could be an issue. But I don't know, man. It's hard to look at ILI Toporia and feel like if you're not watching him fight Islam Makhachev, you're watching the best guy in the weight class. Just the truth. All right, guys. 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