Can Ilia Topuria replicate Conor McGregor’s superstardom? MMA community and pundits are drawing comparisons between the two, noting their similar media presence before fights and even their matching tattoos. Topuria made history by delivering Max Holloway his first-ever knockout loss in a decade-long career, solidifying his status as one of the best 145fers ever to do it. Following this monumental win, Conor McGregor cryptically tweeted, “Call me after the main event,” adding another layer of intrigue to the conversation.

Adding to the buzz, Kamaru Usman shared his thoughts on how Topuria could emulate McGregor’s success. During an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound show, Usman offered a recipe for Topuria’s rise: “When he’s at the mic, he comes off as brash and overconfident, but he backs it up with performance. That’s the recipe for a disruptor, a star. So why not send him to the moon? Let’s match him up with Conor at 155. Just imagine a stadium event in Spain—he could truly become the next Conor McGregor.”

Veterans like Usman, Daniel Cormier, and Chael Sonnen have expressed their support for Topuria as Fighter of the Year over Alex Pereira, given that he’s defeated two legends in Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. ‘The American Gangster’ in particular pointed out that Topuria’s rising profile has been fueled in part by his interactions with bigger stars like McGregor.

For the unversed, the tension between Conor McGregor and Ilia Topuria has been palpable, fueled by their constant back and forth on social media. Critics have suggested that Topuria is mimicking ‘Mystic Mac,’ with even Max Holloway calling him out on this. During a UFC 308 media day, Holloway remarked, “You know the guy. He’s a copycat. Down to the tattoos, his aura, and the way he approaches fights. At the end of the day, you’ve got to earn that moment. He’s just trying to steal someone else’s vibe. Now, he’s trying to take someone else’s moves too. It’s wild.”

Despite criticisms, Topuria silenced doubters when he bulldozered his way for this title defense proving that he’s not just a copycat but a formidable force in the division. Meanwhile, McGregor has been on a lengthy hiatus, leaving Topuria room to shine and establish his own identity in the sport.

Can Ilia Topuria be the next Conor McGregor?

Owing to Topuria’s impressive outing in Abu Dhabi, fans were quick to point out the undeniable similarities between Topuria and McGregor’s respective rise in the sport. Both fighters possess that elusive “star power” as Kamaru Usman pointed out, and share an uncanny ability to predict their victories. McGregor earned the nickname “Mystic Mac” for his knack for foresight, famously predicting a knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194—an outcome he achieved in the first 13 seconds of the fight. Similarly, Topuria confidently anticipated that he would indeed knockout Holloway at UFC 308, a feat that he ultimately achieved.

It seems that McGregor was quick to witness signs of his own brand of flair in ‘El Matador’ and was quick to carve out his maneuvers to counter the Spanish-Georgian in case of a potential match-up. He recently joined a live stream on Duelbits, where he unleashed a fiery rant aimed at Ilia Topuria, laying out his hypothetical fight strategy. “How do you think you’d beat Ilia Topuria? I’d grab him by the scruff of the chest and slap the little nose off of him. Little ding dong of a thing he is. I’m in Marbella at the Bare Knuckle, we’ll see what’s what. You little fool, I’ll cave your head in. Ya little short… tick, I’ll box your jaw in on sight,” McGregor proclaimed, channeling the bravado that has become synonymous with his persona.

With ‘El Matador’ aspiring for dual-weight titles, the question arises: can Topuria follow in McGregor’s footsteps and make a run at 155, potentially challenging Islam Makhachev? With Topuria’s pristine 16-0 record and McGregor’s impressive career, fans are left wondering if the young Spaniard can carve out a legacy as iconic as McGregor’s. What do you think—will Topuria rise to the occasion and claim his place in MMA history? Share your thoughts in the comments below!