Newly crowned lightweight kingpin, Ilia Topuria seems at his unstoppable best lately, but a rival has picked Conor McGregor to put an end to his run.
Topuria, who also held featherweight crown akin to the Dublin striker during his initial run in the Octagon, is making his own inroads into stardom.
And helped no end with his return at UFC 317, Topuria would knock out Charles Oliveira with a devastating first round finish, to land the vacant lightweight crown.
Repeating the feat set out by McGregor with his own dual-weight title wins, Topuria seems to be in the engine room of a free-running train in the Octagon.
But according to a long-time rival, the similarities may come in appearance, with Topuria’s foe predicting a downfall for the Spaniard in a dream matchup.
Paddy Pimblett picks Conor McGregor to knock out Ilia Topuria in super fight
Accused in the past of copying McGregor’s style — even in the nature in which he strapped his new and former title over him at UFC 317, Topuria would be in for a massive test against the 36-year-old according to Pimblett.
And as Pimblett guns for his own title clash with Topuria, he boldly claimed, particularly during his prime years, McGregor would have made classic light work of the Spanish star with a patented knockout win.
“He’s (Ilia Topuria) trying to be Conor McGregor isn’t he?” Paddy Pimblett said on the UFC Unfilitered podcast. “He’s got the same tattoos.
“He even said the other day, ‘I’m going to put my b—- on your forehead,’ to me, which is sort of what McGregor said to Chad Mendes.
“…People are even saying he’s better than McGregor. He’s not. In his [McGregor’s] prime, he would have knocked him [Topuria] out with a straight left hand.”
But despite the similarities between the duo, Topuria was offered a surprise congratulatory message from the UFC icon.
Conor McGregor lauds Ilia Topuria after UFC 317 title victory
Himself also winning lightweight and featherweight gold during his Octagon pomp, McGregor would do so in a similar fashion to Topuria.
Enjoying his own period running amok over the weight classes, McGregor — in jest — praised Topuria for winning “his” old championships.
“Congrats on winning my old titles, Ilia (Topuria),” Conor McGregor posted on X. “He said he’s gonna rest his b—- on Paddy’s (Pimblett) head, too, hahah fair play.
“3 KO’s back to back is very good. No one can deny the knockout. I like.”