Ilia Topuria made history by becoming the UFC lightweight champion at UFC 317, cementing his status as a two-division titleholder, a feat that draws notable comparisons to Conor McGregor. McGregor himself recently acknowledged Topuria’s achievement, highlighting the similarities in their career paths and fighting styles.

Parallels Between Topuria and McGregor’s Rise to Champ Champ Status

From the moment Ilia Topuria, a Spain-based Georgian fighter, entered the UFC, comparisons to Conor McGregor have been frequent. Both fighters possess distinctive tattoos extending down their spines and wield powerful right hands that have famously delivered knockout victories. Remarkably, the timelines of their careers match closely: McGregor captured two UFC belts at 28 years old, doing so just over four months into his 28th year, while Topuria secured his dual championships at a similar age with only a few days’ difference.

Conor McGregor Offers Rare Praise for Topuria

Conor McGregor’s recent comments on social media marked an unusual show of respect toward a fellow UFC lightweight champion. Known for his aggressive rhetoric towards contenders in his former weight classes, McGregor briefly tweeted his congratulations to Topuria before deleting the post, possibly due to reactions from followers. In the tweet, McGregor wrote,

“Congrats on winning my old titles, illia!”

and added,

“He said he gonna rest his balls on paddy head too hahah fair play. Good LW scrap that one is as well imo.”

He further reflected on the state of the UFC with,

“UFC is back? Or still missing something.. ?”

and praised recent finishes, stating,

“3 ko’s back to back is very good. No one can deny the knockout. I like [rose].”

McGregor’s Current Focus and UFC Future

Since stepping away from regular competition four years ago, McGregor’s activities have shifted toward political ambitions in Ireland, though these have yet to gain significant traction. While vocal on social issues such as immigration and crime, he remains without substantial support to enter the political arena. At 36 years old and well past his prime fighting years, a comeback in the UFC appears unlikely unless he undergoes an extended period of drug testing as mandated by the DFSI regulatory body.

Most speculation suggests McGregor might return to the boxing ring rather than MMA. A high-profile boxing match under the UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, potentially involving Saudi Arabian influencer Turki Alalshikh, seems to be the leading option. Rumors of a fight with YouTube star KSI nearly materialized but were eventually dismissed by McGregor as beneath his expectations.

Topuria’s Path Forward Within the UFC

Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria remains eager to continue his rise and is open to fighting again before the end of the year if the UFC arranges a suitable matchup. Known as “El Matador,” Topuria’s versatility and youth present numerous opportunities in his division, leaving fans and analysts anticipating his next moves as he cements his place among the sport’s elite champions.