Ilia Topuria has explained why he would turn down a superfight with Conor McGregor if the UFC ever offered it to him.
The Spanish-Georgian has proven himself to be a formidable competitor inside the cage, capable of knocking out anyone with his thunderous hands.
Ilia Topuria doesn’t want to fight Conor McGregor
At UFC 308 on October 26, 2024, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Ilia Topuria will put his featherweight world championship on the line against Max Holloway.
The fantastic bout pits together two of the biggest names in the sport in a collision that looks destined to excite.
Having received an enormous reception at Real Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium, when he paraded the belt around the pitch, it’s clear Topuria has developed a huge reputation in Europe.
And with the BMF belt wrapped firmly around his waist, ‘Blessed’ is undeniably a fan favorite.
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However, ‘El Matador’ is confident he has the beating of the MMA legend, and has already set his sights on the future.
But it appears Conor McGregor is not in his plans. In an interview with YouTuber, Ibai, the mixed martial artist explained why he isn’t interested in a showdown with the Irishman.
Topuria said: “I wouldn’t like to fight [Conor] McGregor. I mean, McGregor would be an option if I could fight him. But right now, I’m telling you that if they offered me a fight with him, I’d say, ‘No’, because there are bigger fights than him.”
When asked whether ‘The Notorious’ is still the competitor he was at the peak of his powers, his rival gave an insulting response.
The 27-year-old asserted: “I know he is not what he was. He’s not the McGregor who moved the masses.
“I have been inspired by Conor, I admired him when I was little. And he has lost it because he has betrayed the values that have brought him [to the top]. We have lost an idol.”
Topuria was then asked whether McGregor envies newer fighters.
The 145-pound King replied: “So, the statements he has made about me, does he respect me as a fighter? — 100% he respects me as a fighter, and he knows that I am on another level compared to him. But he will never want to acknowledge it and say it publically, because he’s not that type of person.”
Tom Aspinall reveals if he believes he could beat Ilia Topuria and Aleksandre Topuria in a two vs one MMA fight
While a McGregor fight is unlikely, a match-up between Topuria and UFC interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, is basically impossible.
But that didn’t stop an interviewer from asking the Brit whether he reckons he could take the featherweight title holder and his brother in a two vs one MMA match.
After taking a moment to think, Aspinall gave a very interesting response.
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