Michael Bisping sees similarities in Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor’s paths in the UFC.
UFC featherweight champion Topuria hinted at a move up to lightweight, and his coach cited weight cutting as the main reason. McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is the first UFC fighter to hold championships in two weight classes simultaneously, but never defended either his featherweight or lightweight belts.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) notched his first title defense when he knocked out Max Holloway at UFC 308, but has now turned his attention to former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Judging by the way Topuria and McGregor’s careers have played out, Bisping sees a resemblance.
“As we know, Ilia Topuria has styled himself on Conor McGregor, and they’ve got a lot in common,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Undefeated in the UFC featherweight division, stock shot to stardom, knocked everybody out, apart from one person – of course that was Josh Emmett, and that was Max Holloway (for McGregor). Everyone else got slept.
“The confidence from Ilia Topuria has been through the roof just like Conor McGregor. There’s even similarities in their tattoos, the way they warm up and stuff like that. …Also, Conor never defended the featherweight strap and it seems like maybe he’s (Topuria) trying to do the same thing. Move up to lightweight, forget about featherweight because he’s, ‘Been there, done it, got the t-shirt.'”
Topuria put out a statement to clarify that he’s yet to make a final decision, however “El Matador” is not short of options. Awaiting him at 145 pounds is a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski, fellow undefeated Movsar Evloev, and red-hot Diego Lopes.
