Ilia Topuria may not be impressed by the matchup itself, but he knows exactly what’s at stake when Conor McGregor returns to face Max Holloway at UFC 329.
Set for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the highly anticipated rematch marks McGregor’s first appearance in the Octagon since 2021.
While the bout has generated massive buzz, the reigning lightweight champion isn’t sold on its competitive appeal.
“Wow, it’s a sh*t fight,” Topuria said in an interview with ESPN Deportes. “Conor, I think this is good for the sport. I personally think that he’s good for the sport because many people want to see him fight, and want to see one of the real stars of the UFC.”
Topuria acknowledged McGregor’s drawing power but questioned where the real benefit lies.
“I consider Conor one of the biggest stars in the UFC, but it’s one of those things that has its pros and cons,” he explained. “He’s on a downward slide, and the only one who really stands to gain anything from this fight isn’t UFC anymore, it’s him.”
From a stylistic standpoint, Topuria expects a striking-heavy affair between the two former featherweight standouts.
“It’s going to be a stand-up fight, I think, purely striking,” he said. “We’re not going to see any wrestling or ground game. Don’t think Conor’s much worse than Max. They’ll probably just go at it like two kittens, just touching hands and feeling each other out.”
Despite his criticism, Topuria is backing McGregor to come out on top, pointing to their first meeting back in 2013, where the Irishman secured a unanimous decision victory.
“I think Conor is going to win. They already fought once and Conor won,” Topuria said. “This time around, he could beat him, he should beat him.”
His reasoning, however, isn’t entirely neutral.
“In fact, if you ask me who I want to win, and what winner is best for me, it’s Conor,” Topuria admitted. “Because if he wins, and he takes one more fight, maybe we could end up fighting each other.”
For now, Topuria remains focused on his own upcoming clash with Justin Gaethje, but he’s clearly keeping one eye on UFC 329 and what it could mean for his future.