Ilia Topuria has commented on the possibility of facing Conor McGregor in the octagon. The Spanish-Georgian champion stated he never closes doors to such opportunities, even though he acknowledges they are not currently at the same competitive level. Topuria noted that McGregor remains popular and people continue to talk about him. The potential matchup has generated mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a high-profile spectacle while others consider it an ill-advised pairing given the current circumstances.
Ilia Topuria has said he would not rule out a future fight with Conor McGregor, acknowledging the significant gap in competitive activity between the two fighters while leaving the door open to what would be a massive box-office event.
Topuria, 29, carries a 17-1-0 record and currently competes at lightweight, where he sits second in the divisional rankings and holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound standings. The Spanish-Georgian fighter, who trains out of Climent Club and fights out of an orthodox stance, is an active and well-rounded threat inside the octagon, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes.
McGregor, 37, holds a career record of 22-6-0 and built one of the sport's most recognizable brands through his run as a two-division champion. Fighting out of Ireland with SBG Ireland in his corner, the southpaw has historically been one of the sharper strikers in the sport, posting 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy across his UFC career. His return to competition, however, remains an open question.
Topuria acknowledged in his comments that he and McGregor are not at the same competitive level right now, but said he never closes the door on such opportunities and pointed to McGregor's continued popularity as a relevant factor. The remarks have drawn divided reactions, with some viewing the pairing as a compelling spectacle and others questioning whether it makes sense given where both fighters currently stand.
Why it matters
- Topuria is the top pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, making any potential opponent choice a significant divisional storyline
- McGregor has not competed recently, creating a wide competitive gap that Topuria himself conceded
- The style matchup would pit two high-volume strikers against each other, though Topuria brings a far more complete ground game to the equation
- Any confirmed movement toward this fight would carry major commercial weight given McGregor's global profile
