Ilia Topuria has acknowledged the possibility of a future fight with Conor McGregor but expressed a candid view on the Irishman’s current standing in the sport. Topuria revealed that the UFC has previously discussed a potential bout with him and that he would accept the offer if it were presented now.
However, the Spanish-Georgian fighter was direct in his assessment of McGregor, suggesting that while a win and a comeback could change the narrative, “sports-wise,” McGregor is “almost finished.”
Ilia Topuria’s Candid Assessment of Conor McGregor
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Topuria elaborated on his perspective regarding a potential clash with McGregor. He stated:
“If I get offered that fight, then we’ll see. If he gets a win, a comeback, he wins his next fight, and I get offered that fight, we will see. But I never close the door for those kinds of opportunities even if we are not on the same level right now. Maybe on the popularity level, he’s more popular, and people know him, sports-wise, we all know that he’s almost done.”
Topuria’s comments come at a pivotal moment in his career. He has recently claimed the UFC lightweight championship by knocking out Charles Oliveira and is scheduled to defend his title against interim champion Justin Gaethje on June 14th at a White House event, a historic card for the promotion in Washington.
Meanwhile, McGregor’s career has been marked by a significant absence from the octagon. His last fight was a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, which resulted in a severe leg injury. A planned return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024 was subsequently canceled due to a broken toe sustained in training, further delaying his comeback and adding to the uncertainty surrounding his future.
This extended period of inactivity is a primary reason Topuria feels comfortable offering such a direct evaluation of McGregor’s status as an active competitor. He has previously voiced skepticism about McGregor’s ability to meet the demands of elite mixed martial arts after his long layoff and lifestyle changes, a sentiment echoed by Joe Rogan. Nevertheless, Topuria has not definitively ruled out the fight. His stance remains clear: if McGregor secures a victory, regains momentum, and the UFC presents the opportunity, he is open to considering it.
With the lightweight title now around his waist and a highly anticipated defense against Justin Gaethje on the horizon, McGregor is no longer the matchup that would advance Topuria’s career from a sporting perspective. Should a fight between them ever materialize, it would likely be driven by its magnitude and public interest rather than any sporting necessity for Topuria.