Ilia Topuria has joined the conversation surrounding the 'greatest of all time.'
In his journey to claim the title of UFC Featherweight Champion, Topuria achieved a monumental feat by defeating one of the weight class's all-time greats, Alexander Volkanovski, with a second-round knockout at UFC 298.
Having secured the championship belt shortly after celebrating his 27th birthday, Topuria, now crowned, aspires to forge his own legacy within the sport. Dubbed 'El Matador,' he identifies a figure whose association could propel his career to new heights.
"If it was up to me, if I could, say, send a letter to Santa Claus, it would probably be Conor McGregor," Topuria expressed to Europop. "Simply because he represents the first big wave of European MMA and it’s time for us to move on to the next generation. Conor fulfilled his role, he came and took the sport to a new level. It’s time for the old guard to be replaced by the new generation."
McGregor, formerly the reigning featherweight champion, transitioned from the weight class in pursuit of further greatness. His endeavors led him to claim the lightweight title, amass record-breaking pay-per-view figures for the UFC, venture into lucrative business ventures, and now, embark on an acting debut in the film 'Road House.'
Opinions may vary concerning McGregor's recent track record with title defenses and losses. Nevertheless, his impact on the MMA landscape remains undeniable, as acknowledged by Topuria, who includes 'The Notorious' alongside two other luminaries on his personal 'GOAT' list.
"That’s a tough question because I don’t want to take anything away from anyone," Topuria remarked. "Conor, Jon Jones, Khabib [Nurmagomedov], they all helped bring MMA to their respective parts of the planet. Khabib to the Muslim world, Conor to Europe, partially to the US and even the world as a whole. I respect them all and they all have their spot on my list of legends."
Jon Jones and Khabib Nurmagomedov boast near-flawless records, with Jones having suffered his lone defeat via a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009.
'Bones' ascended as the youngest champion in UFC history at 23 years old and currently holds the record for the most title wins in the promotion. Additionally, he recently claimed the heavyweight championship, thirteen years following his initial light heavyweight reign.
Nurmagomedov, though his career spanned a shorter duration compared to Jones, established a period of dominance within the lightweight division from 2012 to 2020. 'The Eagle' clinched the vacant title in 2018 and embarked on a formidable streak of title defenses, culminating in victories over the likes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje, before retiring undefeated with a flawless 29-0 record.
While Topuria envisions facing Nurmagomedov in the octagon as a dream encounter, it appears unlikely due to Nurmagomedov's pledge to his mother to remain retired.
"I would be happy to enter the octagon with Khabib Nurmagomedov," Topuria expressed to TV Imedi. "He had an undefeated record at 29-0 and he had an attractive record for me, then also history. He is a worthy and honorable champion for me. [I would 100% defeat him]."
In delineating his 'list of legends,' Ilia Topuria clarifies that his objective isn't solely centered on etching his name among the greats. The UFC Featherweight Champion harbors a distinct purpose for his career trajectory.
"It will definitely be interesting," Topuria remarked regarding his envisioned legacy. "My goal isn’t to become a legend and sure, I will become one, if God’s willing. All I hope is that I can be a source of inspiration and motivation for the new generation. But most importantly, I want people to remember me as a patient, loving, hard-working dreamer."
