Featherweight juggernaut Ilia Topuria, once inspired by his idol Conor McGregor, has quickly forged his path in the UFC. With generation-defining triumphs against the best 145fers in the business, ‘El Matador’ seeks not only to emulate McGregor’s success but also to mirror his journey by targeting Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Hall of Famer’s almost fabled clash with McGregor at UFC 229 remains one of the most talked-about matchups in MMA history, and now the reigning champion is determined to carve out his legacy by challenging the undefeated Russian.

Following UFC 298, Topuria made his intentions clear: Khabib Nurmagomedov was his “dream opponent.” In an interview with MMA Uncensored, he boldly claimed, “I would 100% defeat him.” This declaration shook the MMA community. Though initially brushed aside, it resurfaced when Josh Thomson discussed it on the YouTube podcast ‘Weighing In’ with co-host and former UFC referee Big John McCarthy.

Big John, however, dismissed Topuria’s bold statement, offering a sobering perspective: “Look, Ilia Topuria is so good, he is. But what he thinks would happen in the standup is not what would happen. And what he thinks would happen on the ground is definitely not what would happen. Khabib proved that his wrestling for MMA was better than anybody else’s. Everyone knew what he was going to do, and they couldn’t stop it. Nobody!”

Despite his criticism, Big John still acknowledged Ilia Topuria’s rising star potential, but he highlighted the stark reality, “The other thing is he’s not nearly as big as Khabib. Khabib’s way bigger,” he added. Breaking down the hypothetical matchup, McCarthy predicted, “Topuria would get taken down and systematically the fight would start to fall away from him.” McCarthy’s analysis carries weight, considering Khabib Nurmagomedov’s perfect undefeated record.

Over his nearly decade-long UFC career, the former lightweight proved unstoppable, defeating top fighters like Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. He retired at just 33 years old following the passing of his father, honoring a promise to his mother to step away from competition.

However, Khabib Nurmagomedov returned to Dagestan, where he trains his cousins and friends, including UFC stars Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov. While Topuria holds respect for ‘The Eagle’, his feelings towards Khabib’s proteges are more complicated. Why is this the case? Let’s find out.

Ilia Topuria accuses Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team of PED use

Ilia Topuria’s drive to follow in Conor McGregor’s footsteps goes beyond his tattoo resemblance. It has become the core of his ambitions, with the current featherweight champion taking over the sport. However, the reigning champion isn’t stopping there. He sets his sights on the lightweight title, aiming to become a two-division champion.

In October, ‘El Matador’ made headlines when he called out Islam Makhachev for a title fight. He humorously said, “We can always resolve it in the Octagon, not in the streets because I’ll have to pay for his medical bills.” This comment sparked tensions between Topuria and Team Khabib, particularly Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, who frequently exchange barbs with him on social media. The situation escalated when, in an interview with KOLmenero, the Spanish-Georgian expressed his respect for Khabib Nurmagomedov but accused his entire Dagestani team of st-roid use.

He claimed, “One thing I respect about Khabib, the guy is super respectful… I mentioned Islam, and all the cousins come out. They’ve never knocked anyone out. They get caught using st-roids… they have a damaged nervous system from taking so many st-roids.” This wasn’t the first time ‘El Matador’ targeted members of Team Khabib. Earlier this year, Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar’s brother and a Bellator fighter, was suspended for alleged banned substance use.

What are your thoughts on Ilia Topuria’s comments? How do you envision a dream matchup between him and Khabib Nurmagomedov unfolding? Do you think the reigning featherweight champion can defend against Nurmagomedov’s dominant ground game inside the Octagon? Let us know your opinions below.