19 February 2024 , 10:15
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UFC legend Conor McGregor has fired back at Ilia Topuria after the new champion called him out following his world title win.
Topuria knocked out Alex Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past weekend to win the same world title McGregor once held in the promotion. McGregor didn't get his prediction right for the fight as he thought Volkanovski would be able to survive an early onslaught from Topuria to make the sixth defence of his belt.
Just moments after UFC boss Dana White wrapped the featherweight world title around Topuria's waist, the Spaniard called out McGregor by saying: " Conor McGregor if you still have some balls, I will be waiting for you in Spain." McGregor responded to Topuria's message by writing on Instagram: "I have huge balls, I've four kids."
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Topuria insisted that he would be prepared to move up in weight for a fight with McGregor, stating: “Who said that I want to fight him at 145? There is no weight if I fight him, he can choose it. I will give him that option, if he feels he is ready for this level of competition then he can choose the weight. I can choose the place."
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McGregor is expected to make his fighting return later this year against Michael Chandler, but no date or venue has been announced for the fight. Topuria, who has previously competed at lightweight, said fighting McGregor has always been a goal of his: “Conor represents the last chapter in MMA so in order to go through that last chapter and leave him behind, that’s why I want to fight him," he said.
McGregor would be the perfect opponent for the UFC's first event in Spain, which is expected to happen later this year after Topuria's world title win. UFC boss Dana White seemed open to the possibility of an event at the Santiago Bernabeu, the stadium of 14-time Champions League winners Real Madrid.
There were many similarities between McGregor and Topuria heading into their undisputed featherweight world title fights as both men were 6-0 in the UFC at the time, on a 14-fight winning streak and 27-years-old. Topuria even copied McGregor by stealing Volkanovski's world title belt at their press conference just days before their fight.