Ilia Topuria has gone after Conor McGregor once again.
Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 this weekend in the biggest fight of his career.
The Georgian-born Spaniard has vowed to make UFC history following the main event bout, while also promising a first-round knockout against Oliveira, who will contest his 47th professional bout in Las Vegas.
Topuria has inspired a new generation of Spanish fighters during his rise to MMA’s summit, even setting up his own promotion, WOW FC, to make it easier for those coming through the ranks to reach the UFC.
‘El Matador’ has been open and honest about the fighters who he looked up to in his youth, saying he wanted to follow in McGregor’s footsteps after the Irishman’s legendary run in MMA’s premier promotion.
However, in the last few years, things have quickly turned bitter between the pair.
McGregor went viral last week for all the wrong reasons when he was recorded allegedly punching a man in Ibiza.
The 36-year-old appeared to hit the man twice at Pacha nightclub in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with the man dropping to the ground.
Topuria, 28, responded to the incident on Monday, looking utterly disappointed in the fighter he once looked up to.
“He connected two punches and he wasn’t even able to knock out an average man,” Topuria told combat sports journalist Shakiel Mahjouri.
“He connected two punches and the guy walked out like normal.”
This wasn’t the first time Topuria has hit out at McGregor, who hasn’t fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Ex-featherweight king Topuria can become a two-division champion this weekend at UFC 317Getty Topuria once idolised McGregor but said the Irishman has ‘betrayed his values’GettyIn November, the Spaniard explained via MMA Weekly why McGregor was no longer a source of inspiration for his fighting career following multiple nasty back-and-forth arguments between both men.
“I know he’s not what he [once] was,” Topuria claimed. “He is a McGregor who represents alcohol and drugs more than sport.”
“I was inspired by Conor. He was an inspiration for me when I was young.
“Myself and a lot of other people I know wanted to follow in his footsteps because he was an example of faith that everything can be achieved through [hard] work, consistency, effort.
“And he lost all of that because he betrayed the values that led him to all of his success.”
Topuria is making the move up to 155 lbs for his fight with Oliveira fresh off two knockout wins over UFC legends.
Topuria knocked out Volkanovski to win the featherweight title in February 2024Getty He was involved in a war of words with McGregor before and after his latest win over HollowayGettyHe was crowned the featherweight king after stopping Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024.
Eight months later, ‘El Matador’ slapped Max Holloway with the first knockout defeat of the latter’s career to defend his belt at UFC 308.
But before the victory, Topuria was involved in another verbal exchange with McGregor.
“Everything looks better on me,” he wrote on X, responding to comments from McGregor, who was backing Holloway to win the fight.
“I’m more handsome, richer, and a better fighter than you.”
McGregor responded with an offensive slur, which prompted Topuria to say: “Exactly. You finally understand what you are.”
Topuria's UFC Record
Eight Wins, Six Finishes
W – Max Holloway via third-round KO at UFC 308 in October 2024 W – Alexander Volkanovski via second-round KO at UFC 298 in February 2024 W – Josh Emmett via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night in June 2023 W – Bryce Mitchell via second-round submission at UFC 282 in December 2022 W – Jai Herbert via second-round KO at UFC Fight Night in March 2022 W – Ryan Hall via first-round KO at UFC 264 in July 2021 W – Damon Jackson via first-round KO at UFC Fight Night in December 2020 W – Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night in October 2020 McGregor hasn’t fought since a trilogy bout with Poirier in 2021GettyAfter his win at UFC 308, McGregor then praised Topuria but asserted the 28-year-old wouldn’t get much better.
“Good little fighter,” McGregor said. “Too small for anything substantial [in my opinion].
“He was getting chewed up in there.”
Topuria had strong words for McGregor when he found out what the Irishman said.
“I don’t know what to say. F*** him,” he clapped back. “I’m telling you, f*** him.
“He fakes to come back every time. He insults everyone in the UFC.
Topuria vs Oliveira headlines UFC 317Getty“He’s like, ‘I don’t care about anyone, I don’t respect anyone.’ Bro, you’re f***ing sick.”
McGregor was meant to make a UFC return last June to fight Michael Chandler.
But the Irishman pulled out of the fight after injuring his toe in sparring.
Speaking to Joe Rogan in April, Topuria took a swipe at McGregor’s condition, revealing his stance on the Irishman’s return.
“His [McGregor’s] toe is f***ed, his chin is f***ed, his body is f***ed,” Topuria explained.
“With that many parties and drugs and all that, you’re gonna have to pay that price at some point.
“You are paying the price with your health, which is the dumbest thing you can do in your entire life…
“He also suffered a lot with the weight cuts. That’s a big damage for your body.
“That’s also one of the reasons why I changed the weight class because I realised that my health is the most important thing in my life.”
UFC 317 takes place on Saturday, June 7, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The preliminary card is scheduled to get started at 11pm UK time, with the main card beginning at around 3am on Sunday morning before the headline clash at 5am.
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