“Conor attracts people because of his walk and swagger, but Ilia has that badass nature along with the ‘good guy’ vibe. This guy is a rocket ship because your mom could like him, your girlfriend could like him, and your friends can like him. Meanwhile, Conor McGregor is much more polarizing,” said Chael Sonnen last year on his YouTube channel, predicting that Ilia Topuria would eventually surpass the Irishman’s stardom in the sport.

Fast forward to 2025, and Topuria now sits atop the MMA world. With a combination of concussive strength and dynamite in his fists, the violent scalp collector has already etched his name in history by successfully defending his featherweight title against Max Holloway, becoming the first fighter to ever derail the ‘Blessed’ express. This week, ‘El Matador’ made his boldest move yet—vacating his 145-pound title to chase his dream of becoming a two-division champion. His target? Islam Makhachev. In doing so, he follows in the footsteps of his former idol, Conor McGregor, who accomplished this feat in 2016 at UFC 205.

However, their journeys to champ-champ status couldn’t be more different. While ‘The Notorious’ never defended his featherweight belt, Topuria has already cemented his reign with a dominant title defense at UFC 308—proving that he’s not just chasing greatness, but earning it every step of the way. Despite these differences, many see Topuria’s meteoric rise in the UFC as a mirror image of McGregor’s path.

Recently, Alexander Volkanovski‘s coach, Joe Lopez, spoke about Topuria’s move to 155lbs during an interview on Submission Radio. Coach Lopez praised The Georgian-Spaniard’s demeanor, recalling their encounters during fight week. “I actually spoke to him and ran into him a few times. Ilia, you know, what he does in the media—that’s a role he plays. But in real life, he’s a very respectful and nice person. I actually have a lot of time for him. Good guy,” Lopez said.

When asked if Topuria had shared the reasons for his move, Lopez responded, aligning with the Spanish-Georgian’s decision to follow the Irishman’s path. “No, it didn’t happen. I spoke to his coaches, but from what I gathered, I think he struggled to make the featherweight limit. He’s won that title, and now, I think he wants to follow the same path as Conor McGregor.”

As Ilia Topuria’s popularity has surged, many fans and MMA pundits have drawn comparisons between him and the Dubliner, with some even calling him McGregor 2.0. One notable similarity lies in the Georgian-Spaniard’s tattoos, particularly on his chest and back, which closely resemble the Irishman’s, prompting some to label him a “wannabe McGregor “ in the UFC. Even Holloway threw a jab at ‘El Matador last year, referring to him as a “copycat,” highlighting the similarities in their tattoos and overall aura.

While it’s clear that McGregor was once an inspiring figure for ‘El Matador’, along with many others in the sport, something seems to have shifted. So, what exactly happened? Why are Ilia Topuria and ‘The Notorious’ no longer on good terms? Let’s hear it from the Georgian-Spaniard himself.

What happened between Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor?

Ilia Topuria recently opened up about his meeting with Conor McGregor, describing it as “super bad vibes.” The two fighters shared a moment at UFC 264 in 2021 when McGregor fought Dustin Poirier in the final bout of their trilogy. Unfortunately, McGregor’s fight ended with a gruesome leg injury, and since then, he has been on hiatus, struggling to make his comeback. In contrast, the Georgian-Spaniard fought on the preliminary card that night, defeating Ryan Hall.

Now, years later, the Irishman is still on hiatus, while Topuria, after conquering the featherweight division, has moved to the 155lbs. However, as time has passed, the once positive relationship between Conor McGregor and ‘El Matador’ has taken a sharp turn. While Ilia once looked up to the Ireland export and even expressed a desire to fight his idol, things have changed.

Reflecting on his past admiration, the Georgian-Spaniard explained, “100%. I was inspired by Conor. When I was younger, I looked up to him, and many of my friends did too. He was an example that hard work, perseverance, and faith could take you to the top. But he has lost that path. He has betrayed the values that got him here. An idol has left us.” Topuria didn’t hold back, adding, “Now, he’s a McGregor who represents alcohol and d–gs more than the sport.”

What are your thoughts on Ilia Topuria’s move to lightweight? Do you believe he has the potential to surpass the Irishman’s stardom in the sport? Will the MMA world embrace him as the next Conor McGregor? Share your opinion below!