Islam Makhachev has weighed in on comparisons between Ilia Topuria’s present prominence in blended martial arts and the historic rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. Chatting with Match TV, the previous UFC light-weight champion acknowledged Topuria as one of many greatest media attracts in fight sports activities immediately, but stopped wanting equating the featherweight-turned-lightweight champion’s trajectory to one of many sport’s most important feuds.
Islam Makhachev Credits Topuria’s Rise While Ruling Out Khabib-McGregor Repeat
“I don’t think it’s even close,” Makhachev stated when asked if Topuria’s profile resembled McGregor’s mainstream reach. “But if you compare interests, he’s one of the biggest. If you were to pick someone now, he’d be one of the biggest.”
Topuria‘s fast ascent via the UFC ranks following his knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski to seize the featherweight title at UFC 298 in February 2024 catapulted him to superstardom. Topuria subsequently defended his belt towards Max Holloway at UFC 308, delivering a third-round knockout earlier than vacating the title to pursue championship alternatives at light-weight, which he gained by way of knockout.
The Khabib-McGregor rivalry, which concluded at UFC 229 in October 2018, stays unparalleled when it comes to producing widespread cultural curiosity past blended martial arts circles. The feud started years earlier when the Irish fighter and Russian grappler crossed paths, escalating via social media exchanges and in-person confrontations. The stress peaked in April 2018 when McGregor attacked a bus carrying Khabib and different fighters at UFC 223, leading to McGregor’s arrest. The eventual assembly produced what many regard as essentially the most important combat in UFC historical past, with Khabib submitting McGregor within the fourth spherical.
Makhachev’s skepticism regarding another rivalry reaching those heights speaks to the uniquely personal nature of the Khabib-McGregor dynamic. The Russian fighter’s victory included a cage-side brawl that captured headlines for weeks afterward, and the animosity between the two athletes persisted well beyond their professional encounter. Khabib has since retired undefeated, while McGregor has remained relatively inactive, occasionally trading online barbs with the fighter and his associates.
Topuria, by contrast, has built his prominence primarily through dominant performances rather than sustained verbal conflict. At 28 years old, the Georgian-Spanish fighter currently holds the UFC lightweight title after defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025, attaining two-division champion standing. His knockout victories over elite competitors have captured consideration, positioning him among the many sport’s most marketable fighters with endorsement deals from a number of world corporations.
