Ilia Topuria has moved on from the Conor McGregor fight – for now.
Featherweight champion Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has long expressed interest in fighting the sport’s biggest star, but with McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) yet to return, “El Matador” is starting to lose interest.
McGregor was scheduled to return from a three-year layoff against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June, but withdrew after breaking his pinky toe. McGregor is eyeing a December return, but UFC CEO Dana White isn’t as hopeful.
“I wanted it before, but right now he seems to be retired,” Topuria told MMA Junkie. “For how long he didn’t fight? For three or four years? Something like that. Once I’m going to see him back in the game – because right now at this point, he doesn’t deserve to share the octagon with me. I’m the world champion. He was, but right now he’s nobody. He’s not even ranked. So if he comes back, he puts himself into the rankings, why not?”
Topuria makes his first title defense against Max Holloway in the UFC 308 headliner, which takes place Oct. 26 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
With the likes of bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley aspiring to fight him, Topuria says he has plenty of big matchups on the horizon.
“At this point, it’s like I have bigger fights ahead,” Topuria said. “The fight with Sean O’Malley is bigger, the fight with Max Holloway is bigger, the fight with Islam (Makhachev) is bigger. Right now, Conor doesn’t represent anything else than drugs and alcohol.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
