Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has stepped away from the Conor McGregor fight – for now. Topuria has long been scouting a bout with the sport’s biggest consensus buyout king. But now that McGregor hasn’t come back, ‘El Matador’ has become increasingly disinterested. Topuria makes his first title defense against Max Holloway in the UFC 308 pay-per-view (PPV) headliner next. It takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
McGregor was the top bill to return from a three-year layoff against Michael Chandler at the UFC 303 PPV in June. However, the Irishman pulled a pinky injury pullout from media obligations. Conor McGregor is seemingly eyeing a December return. But CEO and head honcho Dana White has been cryptically denying it. Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria is more than happy to move on with his own schedule.
I wanted it before, but right now he seems to be retired, …For how long he didn’t fight? For three or four years? Something like that. Once I’m going to see him back in the game – because right now at this point, he doesn’t deserve to share the octagon with me. I’m the world champion…He was, but right now he’s nobody.
Ilia Topuria to Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie
The Spaniard alluded to the fact that ‘Notorious’ is unranked as of now. Out on a leg-break since 2021, his anticipated return did a projected gate buy of $20 million. But that’s where the buck stops with how much hold McGregor has on the state of UFC competition. For now, it’s all eyes on Max Holloway and UFC 308.
‘Blessed’ won the BMF belt with a shock R5 finish of Justin Gaethje at the April UFC 300 pay-per-view (PPV) event. Holloway’s bravado in his shock knockout provided a lot of clarity to the otherwise gimmicky silver belt. Ever since then, the Alicante-Georgian has been poking at him for a matchup. Topuria is on a roll and even has a second-round burnout of Alexander Volkanovski at the UFC 298 PPV main event in February. Fulfilling his aspirations to remain undefeated, ‘Mac’ is no longer an endgame for him.
Ilia Topuria snubs Conor McGregor for ‘bigger matches’ ahead
Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway at UFC 308 will most certainly be a striking clinic of epic proportions. Whichever way it turns out, the 145-pound champ has some ideas about where he goes from here. Topuria says he has plenty of big fights on the horizon, including bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley who wants to fight him.
Ahead of UFC 308 Max Holloway showdown, Ilia Topuria notes legacy matchups next (Source: boxemag.com/X/Instagram)Just a division removed from each other, they have engaged in minor callbacks. The Team Climent Club featherweight won his undisputed gold just a card from O’Malley’s maiden defense in Miami, with a shutout of Marlon Vera at UFC 299. Given the big proportions of fandom that they engage in nowadays, both have been gunning for a champ vs. champ opportunity.
At this point, it’s like I have bigger fights ahead, …The fight with Sean O’Malley is bigger, the fight with Max Holloway is bigger, the fight with Islam is bigger. Right now, Conor doesn’t represent anything else than drugs and alcohol.
Ilia Topuria further said
UFC fighters don’t usually have the flexibility of opting for boxing. But an exception was Conor McGregor when he laced up the gloves in 2017. Chasing that template, Both he and Ilia Topuria have also made similar aspirations known to crossover into boxing. While they have butted heads, they know the brand value buyout such a matchup would bring.
The Spaniard has also kept plans alive for shifting up a class to face 155-pound king Islam Makhachev. Topuria has the opportunity to clash against a top UFC pound-for-pound and a 2024 ESPY for Best UFC Fighter Award. recipient. Topuria, 27, says McGregor does not represent a similar brand value as he, others, and ‘Suga’ do anymore.
