Last weekend, featherweight king Ilia Topuria successfully defended his title against former champion Max Holloway in front of a packed Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. ‘El Matador’ sent ‘Blessed’ into the shadow realm within three rounds of the fight, elevating the excitement of the UFC 308 main event. In a toe-to-toe battle, Holloway landed some solid hits but was ultimately unable to withstand Topuria’s striking prowess. With this win, the Spanish-Georgian top dog silenced the critics who questioned his skills.

However, an older controversy has resurfaced in the MMA community, reignited by Max Holloway during the press conference before the fight. The Hawaii native accused Ilia Topuria of imitation due to his demeanor and tattoos, stating, “You know the guy he’s copycatting, right?” This accusation drew comparisons to UFC superstar Conor McGregor, a topic that has been raised by many of ‘El Matador’s rivals.

Recently, during an outing with Mail Sport Boxing, the host presented this question to UFC head honcho Dana White, asking about Holloway’s allegations against Topuria. White responded, “Um, I—I don’t see it. I—I don’t know what Max is talking about; I don’t see it. But, um, you know, Conor’s not a bad guy to copy—he’s done pretty well for himself. But there will never be another Conor. There will be somebody else who will be different.”

However, at the end of his statement, White left the door open for the possibility that Ilia Topuria could emerge as a counterpart to Irishman, stating, “Maybe Topuria could be a version of Conor as far as a megastar goes.”

There’s no denying that ‘El Matador,’ who has long viewed Conor McGregor as an idol, has finally claimed the spotlight where ‘Mystic Mac’ once stood. He is no longer content to live under McGregor’s shadow; instead, he aspires to accomplish something monumental that the fight world never imagined.

Ilia Topuria fires back at Holloway’s “Copycat” claims

In his less than a decade-long run in the UFC, Conor McGregor has cemented his status as a force to be reckoned with—not just through his fighting style but also with his charisma and trash-talking antics. He has become the face of the UFC, turning it into a household name even outside America. This has motivated fighters like Sean O’Malley and Ilia Topuria to step forward.

However, Ilia Topuria has taken things a step further, drawing attention with his McGregor-inspired tattoos, which have made him the target of critics who label him a ‘wannabe McGregor.’ But now, the tables have turned. ‘El Matador’ no longer needs Conor McGregor’s name to build his legacy; instead, he’s determined to forge his own path.

He echoed this sentiment in a pre-fight press conference. Responding to Holloway’s comments, Ilia Topuria stated, “It’s going to be in the first round. I’ll put a lot of pressure on him from the beginning of the fight, from the first round. He’s been saying a lot, that I copy other fighters, but the reality is that he wants to be me, he wants to be the champion, and he wants to be in my place.”