Ilia Topuria called out for copying ‘Conor McGregor’s playbook’ after setting eyes on 155-pound division
UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria playing the Conor McGregor route to double-dip opportunities, says lightweight Dan Hooker.
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Ilia Topuria playing the Conor McGregor route to title talks, says Dan Hooker (Source: IMAGO)
As 2024 draws to a close, some uncertainty surrounds Ilia Topuria. What is certain, however, is that the reigning UFC 145-pound champ has had a year and tenure like no other. Topuria has had unprecedented success, often seeing him on the same bill as Conor McGregor. Just like ‘The Notorious’, select few nations have rallied behind Topuria’s success. Now, with him hinting at a move north, Dan Hooker has some reservations.
Ilia Topuria has initiated champ’s champ talks against reigning 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev for it. The two have been going at it since the Spaniard’s opening act at the UFC 298 PPV when he KOed Alexander Volkanovski right after Makhachev did. Now, a 145-title rematch seems off. Volk’s Team CKB mate Dan Hooker though says he is just playing to his strengths and keeping himself in the equation. AKA, the ‘Notorious’ Playbook.
It’s pretty evident he’s just working off McGregor’s playbook. Line 1 of McGregor’s playbook is ‘Keep Your Name in Headlines’…The guy doesn’t fight that often. I think he just fights Volk sometime next year
Dan Hooker to Denis Shkuratov for the ‘Submission Radio’ Show for SBNation Network (🎥: @SubmissionRadio on YT)
Much like Dan Hooker, even prime instigator Chael Sonnen has said as much. During PFL Europe 1 at Accor Arena, Paris, Sonnen even lauded ‘El Matador’ for keeping himself in the equation. Back then, he was driving rumors of a headlining match with Max Holloway and even dissed him for ducking. Topuria would go on to KO another UFC Pound-for-pound great, blowing off Holloway at the UFC 308 PPV headliner – Round 3, 1:34, to defend his title.
Dan Hooker doesn't think Ilia Topuria will actually move up to 155:
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 21, 2024
"It's pretty evident he's just working off McGregor's playbook. Line 1 of McGregor's playbook is 'Keep Your Name in Headlines'…
The guy doesn't fight that often. I think he just fights Volk sometime next… pic.twitter.com/I7plhiGlM4
Of course, the comparison with Conor McGregor has been a long thing. McGregor himself was a dual-division UFC belt holder and infamy like no other. But, if Topuria can become a double champ, he’s well on his way to surpassing the Irishman’s fame. Some though already consider him some form of G.O.A.T.
Ilia Topuria more skilled than Jon Jones, says ex-UFC champ
Ilia Topuria’s domination and title encore have set the tone for what could be one of the greatest UFC tenures. UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier knows a thing or two about knockouts, and speaking on ESPN’s “Good Guy/Bad Guy” show, he chose his knockout over Holloway as the biggest this year. AKA head coach Javier Mendez also presents Topuria as what it rudimentarily takes to take on names like Charles Oliveira and be a true lightweight.
Undefeated Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is fresh off back-to-back knockouts of competition greats. Having cut through Volk’s spatial control, he also became the first to stop the gritty Hawaiin Holloway. Hence, T.J. Dillashaw does not just see him as the best boxer or all-around martial artist but as a skill-to-skill great.
I think Topuria’s the best fighter in the UFC right now, …[Pound-for-pound over Jon Jones?] I mean, not off of resume, no, …But off his skills, yes…Never stand in front of the guy. He’s fast, his boxing’s crisp. I would try to get outside his shoulders to try to switch my stances up.
T.J. Dillashaw on ‘JAXXON’ Podcast (@jaxxonpodcast)
Jon Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) is currently number two in the UFC pound-for-pound list, while Topuria is number four. Topuria has recently teased a possible move up to lightweight. He made one appearance at 155 pounds at UFC Fight Night 204 in March 2022 – scoring a thunderous knockout of Jai Herbert. It’s a steep curve to G.O.A.T. Jones and UFC dropping media montages like Topuria drops celebratory roses. But he is already more viral than “Bones”.
Topuria made the Forbes ’30 under 30′ list – a post only Conor McGregor touted from the MMA side of things. He took over the Super Bowl LVIII Radio Row, Jack Slack Podcast 164; receiving an ovation during the El Hormiguero interview. The 145-pound champ even met with the Spanish Prime Minister and had soccer superstar Sergio Ramos in his corner. A dual championship will see his stock surge even more.
Related: Ilia Topuria gym: Know about millionaire UFC 308 star’s high-tech gym
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