UFC champ says Conor McGregor isn't significant enough to fight

If any UFC champion can claim Conor McGregor's glory in the future, it's Ilia Topuria.

Topuria made his name with a brutal knockout of then-champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 and is slowly becoming famous. As a Georgian Spaniard, “El Matador” enjoys the support of some of the world’s biggest MMA fans. One can only imagine the magnitude of a clash between Topuria and McGregor, especially now that the Irish star no longer has an immediate opponent.

Topuria has other plans, however, and recently went on record saying he would pass up a McGregor fight if he were offered one now.

“Right now I'll tell you this if they offered me a fight with him [McGregor]“I would say no,” Topuria said Ibai Llanos on September 24th. “Because there are bigger fights than him. … He is not the McGregor who moved the masses; he is a McGregor who is more into alcohol and drugs than sport.”

This is a significant change of heart for Topuria, who boldly challenged McGregor after winning the title at UFC 298. Perhaps the constant delays and fans' collective lethargy surrounding McGregor's return have changed his mind.

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