Ilia Topuria declined to predict a winner in a potential matchup between Max Holloway and Conor McGregor. When asked for his opinion on the hypothetical bout, Topuria stated that when someone loses to Nate Diaz, it becomes very difficult to make any predictions. The comment references McGregor's past submission loss to Diaz. Topuria's remarks suggest he finds it challenging to assess McGregor's current competitive standing. The post does not indicate whether a Holloway-McGregor fight is actually scheduled or just being discussed speculatively.
Ilia Topuria refused to name a winner in a hypothetical matchup between Max Holloway and Conor McGregor, offering a pointed remark instead of a straightforward prediction when the question was put to him.
The number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Topuria made his reasoning clear with a reference to McGregor's past submission loss to Nate Diaz. The 29-year-old Spaniard, who carries a 17-1 record and is currently ranked second in the lightweight division, suggested that anyone who has lost to Diaz is simply too difficult to evaluate with any confidence. The comment reads as a subtle but deliberate dig at McGregor's competitive credibility rather than a genuine analytical difficulty.
Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound, is a 34-year-old American with a 27-9 record and a reputation as one of the sport's most prolific strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy across his career. His recent run at lightweight has kept him firmly in contention at the top of the division.
Diaz, the man Topuria referenced, is a 41-year-old Stockton southpaw holding a 22-13 record. His submission of McGregor remains one of the more iconic results in UFC history, and Topuria clearly sees it as a measuring stick that clouds any assessment of McGregor's current level.
Why it matters
- Topuria's comment signals how lightweight's top contenders view McGregor's standing ahead of any potential return
- A Holloway-McGregor fight has not been confirmed and remains speculative at this stage
- The remark keeps Topuria central to lightweight narratives despite not being directly involved in the hypothetical bout
