👀😲Umar Nurmagomedov reveals Hunter Campbell
came to Dagestan to convince Islam to move up so Topuria can become
the champ at 155„He [Hunter] came to see Islam, and they wanted Islam to move up.
They want to make Topuria the champ at 155. They believe he can
really sell… pic.twitter.com/bMOiyARPFT— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
June 15, 2025
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Umar
Nurmagomedov made some stunning revelations about
UFC executive Hunter
Campbell’s recent visit to Dagestan.
The featherweight, lightweight and welterweight title pictures were
all in a mix prior to UFC 315
last month — and Campbell was surprisingly visiting the Republic of
Dagestan in Russia weeks before the event. Nurmagomedov recently
revealed the purpose behind Campbell’s visit to his
homeland.
While Islam
Makhachev had been eyeing a move up to welterweight for a
while, he didn’t confirm the decision until Belal
Muhammad was dethroned by Jack
Della Maddalena at UFC 315. Meanwhile, Ilia
Topuria had announced a move to lightweight and was rallying to
challenge Makhachev for the title. Nurmagomedov revealed that the
UFC wanted Makhachev to move up and vacate his belt to make space
for Topuria at lightweight. According to Nurmagomedov, Campbell
visited Dagestan to convince Makhachev to move up.
“He came to see Islam,” Nurmagomedov told Adam
Zubayraev. “He’s the kind of guy who’s super locked in on his
work. He’s the one who made the Khabib-Conor fight happen. From
what I gathered, he’s a huge fan. He loves the sport, wants to
build big fights. He flew out, and honestly I don’t even know if
I’m allowed to say this… But they wanted Islam to move up. They
want to make Topuria the champ at 155 [pounds]. Not because Islam
wants to move up but because they want [Topuria] to be the champ
there. They believe he can really sell fights.”
Topuria fights former champ Charles
Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317
on June 28 in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Makhachev has been promised the
next welterweight title shot at a yet-to-be-decided date and
venue.