‘If I want to, I can finish you’: Ilia Topuria, pros react to Islam Makhachev’s fast finish at UFC 311

Islam Makhachev remains inevitable and his peers continue to pay him their respects.

The UFC’s reigning lightweight champion made short work of short-notice replacement Renato Moicano in the UFC 311 main event, needing less than a round to secure a D’Arce choke submission that forced the challenger to tap out. It was a sharp reminder that Makhachev is not only the king of the 155-pound division, but the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Credit has to be given to Moicano for having success on the feet early on, but once Makhachev took the fight to the ground, it was all but over as he sliced through Moicano’s defenses to secure the fight-ending choke.

The victory left viewers searching for an answer as to who can challenge Makhachev, though one particularly interested party had a suggestion sure to intrigue fans.

“Islam, If I want to, I can finish you,” UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria wrote. “I can finish you if I want to, I can knock you out. I’ll make it look easy. See you soon.”

See more social media reactions from the MMA community below.

---