McGregor says Topuria will return stronger from first career defeat

Conor McGregor took to social media on June 15 to voice his support for Ilia Topuria following the Georgian-Spaniard's defeat at UFC White House the previous evening, stating his belief that Topuria will emerge from the setback a stronger fighter.

Topuria, who competes at lightweight and carries a record of 17-1-0, suffered the first loss of his professional career at the event. Known as "El Matador," the 29-year-old Spain-based Georgian holds the number-two ranking in the lightweight division and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. He is one of the more active offensive fighters in the sport, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate, while also mixing in nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes and averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

McGregor, the 37-year-old Irishman nicknamed "The Notorious," carries a 22-6-0 professional record and trains out of SBG Ireland. A former two-division UFC champion, McGregor himself is no stranger to high-profile losses and spoke from that experience in offering encouragement. He averages 5.32 significant strikes per minute with a 49 percent accuracy rate across his career.

Why it matters

• Topuria's first career loss comes while he holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking, making the defeat a significant moment in the divisional landscape
• His standing at number two in the lightweight division means the result will likely trigger a reshuffling of the top of the rankings
• McGregor's public endorsement keeps a high-profile spotlight on Topuria's career trajectory at a pivotal moment