Conor McGregor has shared his opinion of UFC featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, claiming Max Holloway will pick him apart in a potential fight.
Conor McGregor finally makes his UFC return on June 29th at UFC 303 on International Fight Week, as he takes on Michael Chandler in a welterweight bout.
Although the Irishman hasn’t competed at 145lbs since 2016 when he won the title against Jose Aldo, he has kept his eye on the division and has had his say on the current champion, Ilia Topuria.
Conor McGregor labels Ilia Topuria ‘non-champion’ and predicts Holloway win
‘El Matador’s’ first featherweight title defense is likely to come against Max Holloway, after ‘Blessed’ won the ‘BMF’ title against Justin Gaethje back in April.
Despite that, ‘The Notorious’ has questioned the 27-year-old’s championship credentials and made a surprising comparison.
McGregor compared Topuria to former teammate, Artem Lobov, with whom he has had a serious falling out over the past two years over a legal dispute relating to his Proper 12 Whiskey.
“F*** (Topuria) too. Don’t give a f*** about him either, he reminds me of a little re*ards Artem Lobov, Topuria does. Two little re*ards.” McGregor said on a live stream with Duelbits.
The Irishman went on to break down Topuria’s potential upcoming fight against Max Holloway, claiming that Holloway ‘picks him apart’.
“Holloway is too light, too fast, I think Holloway picks him apart if they fight. Holloway has done it, he’s had that featherweight title he had it for a long time, he’s now the BMF.
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“Topuria for me is a non-champion in my opinion, he might have a strap but it’s a meaningless strap in my opinion as he holds it, I don’t see any attraction to it. I don’t get the buzz with him.” he added.
The Spaniard claimed that by 2025, he will be the highest-paid athlete in the world, but Conor McGregor has thrown cold water on Topuria’s ‘silly’ claims.
“He’s talking about being the highest-paid athlete in 2025. The 2025 highest-paid athlete list begins right now so that means he’s going to rake in $200-300m. Don’t be silly lad. Just a stupid little fool.” McGregor stated.
Conor McGregor also takes a shot at Alexander Volkanovski
Ilia Topuria won the title from Alexander Volkanovski back in February at UFC 298 and since then, ‘The Great’ has admitted he will take an extended period off from fighting.
McGregor also took a shot at the Australian featherweight claiming he’d ‘kick his head clean off’.
“F*** (Volkanovski). F*** him too. I’d have kicked his head clean off his shoulders and that’s a fact.” McGregor claimed.
It was previously rumored that ‘El Matador’ would rematch Volkanovski at UFC 305 in Perth, however, Topuria recently hinted that he has been given a date for a potential inaugural event in Spain, with Max Holloway being the likely challenger.