Last week, Terence Crawford etched his name in boxing history, defeating Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed champion in a third division. He secured a decision victory at Allegiant Stadium, thereby cementing his place among the sport’s elite. However, even as the focus was on his historic win, a curious detail drew attention—Crawford used UFC star Ilia Topuria’s entrance song, “Canción del Mariachi,” the same track ‘El Matador’ plays when walking to the cage.

When asked about the walkout, Terence Crawford shrugged off the comparison, yet for Ilia Topuria, the move struck a nerve. Consequently, the UFC fighter saw it as personal, sparking his interest in a potential boxing showdown with ‘Burd’. “First, he calls me drunk… then he walks out to MY song. Crawford, whenever you want, I’ll teach you how to dance that mariachi in the ring,” ‘El Matador’ wrote, challenging Crawford directly.

Terence Crawford turns down Ilia Topuria fight demands fight with Conor McGregor

Way back, while UFC president Dana White made it clear that he isn’t interested in crossover bouts between UFC fighters and boxers, Topuria nevertheless remained optimistic. Further, speaking at a WOW event in Spain, Ilia Topuria suggested he could persuade the UFC brass to grant him the same opportunity Conor McGregor received when he faced Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

In response, Terence Crawford was quick to dismiss the idea on The Ariel Helwani Show. “I’ve never even seen this dude fight… I’m not worried about him at all. What money would I get out of fighting him? He’s nowhere near the level of Conor McGregor. Don’t ever compare him to Conor. I don’t know this guy,” ‘Bud’ said, firmly brushing off the matchup.

But Topuria isn’t just any fighter. The UFC Lightweight Champion tore through Charles Oliveira in the first round at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, claiming the vacant title and cementing a 17-fight unbeaten streak. Sitting atop the UFC pound-for-pound rankings, Topuria combines knockout power with a polished wrestling pedigree—a mix that has drawn comparisons to MMA’s greatest. He vacated his featherweight title earlier this year to focus on lightweight, and now his bold call-out of Terence Crawford adds fuel to the crossover fight frenzy sweeping combat sports.

Ilia Topuria confident Dana White will give him the Conor McGregor-style shot

People have often compared Ilia Topuria to Conor McGregor since he burst onto the UFC scene, looking at tattoos, wardrobe choices, and fighting style. Critics quickly dubbed him a “copycat,” but Topuria has never minded. McGregor is, after all, his idol. Now, Topuria is writing his own chapter. Last month, he became the UFC’s first undefeated two-division champion at the same age McGregor hit a similar milestone — arguably edging the Irishman by going one step further. Like McGregor, Topuria isn’t in the fight game for longevity; he’s chasing financial success fast.

For perspective, McGregor reportedly pocketed $100 million for his 2017 bout against Floyd Mayweather under Zuffa Boxing, with Dana White & Co. behind the historic event. Even though UFC President Dana White has publicly dismissed future crossover bouts between UFC fighters and boxers, Topuria isn’t backing down. Speaking after one of his WOW events in Spain, he said: “It’s something I want to do, and I don’t think [White] will tell me he doesn’t want to help me achieve my dream,” Topuria said. “I’ll have his support, I have no doubt about that. It’ll take some convincing, but I’m sure it’ll work out.”

With no fight on the horizon, the big question remains: can Topuria make it happen under Zuffa Boxing? Even McGregor struggled to get his rumored exhibition with Logan Paul off the ground earlier this year, with White ultimately shutting it down. Fans are left wondering—will Topuria succeed where Conor McGregor couldn’t? Drop your thoughts below.