Conor McGregor Calls Out Ilia Topuria
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Conor McGregor is calling out highly skilled opponents for a fight in 2025. But MMAfighting latest news shows that any fight with the Irish star may be a case where people have to see him step into the octagon before it actually happens. McGregor is now going on three years without having a fight that didn’t happen on the movie screen.
This time, McGregor has taken aim at Ilia Topuria. Topuria is the UFC featherweight champion and would like to follow in McGregor’s footsteps by going up to lightweight to be a champion in two weight divisions. There are no guarantees that the UFC will grant Topuria’s wish to go up a weight class.
But if UFC CEO Dana White wants to have McGregor and Topuria fight, it could be a massive payday for the organization and both men. But agreeing to a weight class and honoring the active fighters who are ranked ahead of McGregor, will be a hard line for the UFC to walk.
McGregor’s Reputation is at an All-Time Low
McGregor has been out of action for three years already after suffering a leg injury during a fight with Dustin Poirier. When looking at MMA breaking news, all signs point to McGregor struggling to control his impulses.
A recent civil case for rape in Ireland has put a major black mark on McGregor’s reputation. McGregor was ordered to pay the victim a settlement as a result of what happened, but the courts didn’t choose to pursue criminal charges.
McGregor has also been accused of a few other crimes, including a sexual assault while he was at a Miami Heat game. McGregor was also accused of attacking a woman on a boat.
What Weight Would Topuria and McGregor Fight At?
It’s hard to imagine that McGregor would be able to cut down to 145 pounds and fight Topuria for the featherweight crown. MMA news websites have also done several articles commenting on his recent appearance. McGregor appears to be much bigger than when he was fighting.
Part of that weight game came from when McGregor played a villain role in the reboot of “Roadhouse.” McGregor’s last fight on camera was likely the battles he had with the characters in the movie, which went straight to Amazon Prime video.
If Topuria went to lightweight, that might be a more realistic cut for McGregor. Getting down to 155 pounds may be more doable. However, Topuria has already identified wanting to fight former champion Charles Oliveira.
McGregor often talks about wanting to fight but hasn’t been able to stay healthy enough to make it past the promotional part of a fight week.
What About Mike?
Michael Chandler may be the person who has been most hurt by McGregor’s erratic behavior. Chandler, a former Bellator champion who also challenged for the UFC lightweight title, was set to fight McGregor in 2024. Chandler agreed to coach opposite McGregor on a season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Chandler ultimately got his fight date with McGregor at UFC 303 last Juen. However, the fight was called off two weeks before it was scheduled due to McGregor suffering a broken toe.
Chandler was out of action for two years, waiting for his moment for a big payday. When it became clear McGregor wouldn’t fight again until 2025, Chandler accepted a fight with Oliveira.
Chandler lost a five-round decision, which was his fourth loss in his past five fights. While Chandler is an exciting fighter who always delivers a good show, the loss did dent his appeal to fight McGregor. McGregor recently said he was still interested in fighting Chandler but quickly deleted his Tweets. Fighting with Chandler feels like the right thing to do. Chandler put his career on hold for a few years to wait for McGregor.
While McGregor may still have delusions of being champion again, picking up a fight against an opponent like Chandler makes more sense.
Would the Fight Make Sense for Topuria?
It’s hard to say. Looking at it from a merit-based perspective, McGregor has no business fighting Topuria. McGregor didn’t look great back in 2021 when he returned for a pair of fights with Topuria. Having him step back into the octagon with a ferocious striker may be a sad sight for everyone to see.
Topuria is undefeated and should be taking on the best the UFC has to offer. He has impressive wins over Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. While McGregor’s name would look good on Topuria’s resume, the Irish star would need to prove he is on Topuria’s level before the two men fought.
Should McGregor Continue Fighting?
Following the resolution of McGregor’s court case, he may now need the money that comes with fighting. While McGregor still has a stake in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, many of his other sponsors have dropped him as a result of the controversy. McGregor may fight because he needs the money.
Topuria shouldn’t be the opponent. The UFC should avoid going the super fight route and try to keep the belts moving in their natural order. Let McGregor finally get his opportunity and fight Chandler.
The two men originally agreed to fight at welterweight. If Chandler and McGregor got together at that weight, the two men should be able to produce a fun fight that fans wouldn’t avoid. Topuria should have bigger fish to fry.
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By Dean McHugh.
