2 days ago

Islam Makhachev Defends Ilia Topuria’s Actions In Charles Oliveira Finish

Ex-lightweight champion defended Topuria after criticism for striking Oliveira while he was already down, explaining that such moments happen instinctively and fighters should not be blamed. “A fighter fights until the referee says stop,” Makhachev said, referencing his own experiences against Tibau and Volkanovski. He emphasized that fighters act on instinct in those split seconds, trusting referees to intervene appropriately.