UFC 308 was the biggest pay-per-view of 2024; for Conor McGregor, it was an opportunity to win big. Ahead of the fight card, McGregor put a total of $500K against Khamzat Chimaev and Ilia Topuria. If things had gone right, the ‘Notorious’ would have won around a whopping $17 million. However, that wasn’t the case.
Conor McGregor had bet on Robert Whittaker to win by knockout in the later rounds. However, the fight took an unexpected turn. Khamzat Chimaev ended it in the first round, leaving McGregor fuming. His frustration was clear in his latest X rant, where he vented about the outcome. He criticized Chimaev for looking for a takedown rather than punching it out.
Similarly, McGregor wanted Max Holloway to knock out Ilia Topuria in the first round. Given his latest online dispute with the Georgian-Spaniard, ‘Mystic Mac’ was eager to see Topuria lose his title. However, the ‘El Matador’ put out a statement and became the first fighter to KO Holloway.
Topuria and Chimaev put out some recent dominating performances that fight fans have seen. It was definitely a spectacular night at the Etihad Arena and for the fans at home. However, for McGregor, it was definitely not the same.
Conor McGregor claims featherweight ‘GOAT’ status despite Ilia Topuria’s win at UFC 308
Conor McGregor‘s featherweight run was legendary, marked by his rapid rise through the division. His iconic knockout of Jose Aldo in 13 seconds and incredible trash-talking forever changed UFC’s featherweight landscape. However, the fighter never defended his belt, so he moved on to the lightweight and won the belt.
Conor McGregor and Ilia Topuria (via X)However, since then, the featherweight division has seen some dominating title runs, including Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. However, Ilia Topuria was able to knock out both the legends in the same year. But it doesn’t seem to bother McGregor, who still thinks highly of his legacy.
Few fw’s now in the mix, and I beat every single one of them. I am that divisions menace. Point blank. Everyone on that list I hurt badly and finish. Not one of them lay a glove on King Mac
Conor McGregor via X
Few fw’s now in the mix, and I beat every single one of them. I am that divisions menace. Point blank. Everyone on that list I hurt badly and finish. Not one of them lay a glove on King Mac. #FWGoat
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 26, 2024
After his latest victory, Ilia Topuria’s confidence is soaring to new heights. Previously, he mocked Conor McGregor for his struggles with drugs and alcohol, and now he has even more reason to taunt the ‘Notorious.’ It will be intriguing to see how their rivalry unfolds from here.
