Ilia Topuria has left the door open for a future battle with Conor McGregor, however he’s not dressing it up as a gathering of two fighters in the identical place competitively. Talking in regards to the thought of going through the previous two-division UFC champion, Topuria stated the UFC had already mentioned the matchup with him and that he would settle for it if the promotion made the provide immediately.
On the similar time, the Spanish-Georgian Topuria gave a blunt view of the place McGregor stands, saying that if McGregor will get a win and places collectively a comeback, then the dialog might change, whereas including that everybody is aware of “sports-wise” he’s “virtually completed.”
Ilia Topuria on Conor McGregor: “Sports activities-wise, we all know he’s virtually completed”
Talking in an interview with Ariel Helwani, Ilia Topuria defined his place on a possible Conor McGregor bout. he stated:
“If I get supplied that battle, then we’ll see. If he will get a win, a comeback, he wins his subsequent battle, and I get supplied that battle, we’ll see. However I by no means shut the door for these sorts of alternatives even when we’re not on the identical degree proper now. perhaps on the recognition degree, he’s extra fashionable, and other people know him, sports-wise, everyone knows that he’s virtually completed.”
That quote lands at a really completely different level in Topuria’s profession now. Topuria moved past light-weight rumors and took the belt outright, knocking out Charles Oliveira to turn out to be UFC champion at 155 kilos. His subsequent step is already set as nicely, with the UFC reserving him to defend the title towards interim champion Justin Gaethje on the White Home occasion on June 14, a title unification bout that may headline the promotion’s historic card in Washington.
The opposite half of the story is McGregor’s lengthy absence. He has not fought within the UFC since his July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, the bout that ended with McGregor struggling a critical leg harm. His deliberate return towards Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024 was then scrapped due to a damaged toe suffered in coaching, extending the uncertainty round his comeback even additional. That inactivity is a serious cause Topuria feels comfy talking so instantly about McGregor’s standing as an energetic fighter.
Topuria has sounded skeptical about McGregor for some time. In a separate look mentioned after his Joe Rogan interview, he questioned whether or not McGregor’s way of life and lengthy layoff nonetheless match the calls for of elite MMA, whereas Rogan additionally voiced doubt that McGregor would return in any significant approach. Even so, Topuria stopped wanting rejecting the battle outright. His place is easy: if McGregor wins, rebuilds some momentum, and the UFC brings him the provide, he’s keen to have a look at it.
With the light-weight title already round his waist and Justin Gaethje ready in his subsequent protection, McGregor is not the battle that strikes his profession ahead in sporting phrases. If that matchup ever occurs, it might be due to its scale and a spotlight, not as a result of Topuria wants it.
