Ilia Topuria: Ian Machado Garry has 'a lot of chances' vs. Islam Makhachev

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria thinks Ian Machado Garry could catch Islam Makhachev.

Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) is one of the frontrunners to face UFC welterweight champ Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) next – even though Makhachev won't commit to it just yet. If Machado Garry does indeed get the next title opportunity, Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) wouldn't be shocked if he pulled off the upset.

"It's the fight business. Everyone has chances – everyone, and especially someone like Ian," Topuria told ESPN MMA of Machado Garry. "He's been collecting a lot of experience during his run in the UFC, and why not? I see him with a lot of chances. And Islam, we already saw him getting knocked out in a fight, and why not for a second time?"

Topuria has been angling to fight Makhachev for a while, but their paths are yet to cross. He defends his lightweight title against interim champ Justin Gaethje in the UFC Freedom 250 main event June 14 from the White House in Washington D.C.

But what happens if Machado Garry dethrones Makhachev?

"I'm the type of person at the end, whatever happens, my mindset is like it's good for me," Topuria said. "Whoever wins, it's good for me. Everything happens for a reason. So I don't care."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ilia Topuria not ruling out Machado Garry's chance to beat Makhachev