A blockbuster matchup between Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor is not on the table yet, but the UFC lightweight champion made clear he would consider it if McGregor proves he can still win at the highest level. Topuria discussed the possibility during an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s podcast.
For the UFC, that is the kind of scenario that could instantly reshape the lightweight picture. Topuria is the division’s current standard-bearer, while McGregor remains the promotion’s biggest crossover star even after a long layoff. If McGregor were to return with a meaningful win, fan and media pressure in the U.S. for a title shot would get loud in a hurry.
Topuria made it clear the fight is not something he is actively targeting right now, but he is not ruling it out either. His position is simple: if an offer comes and McGregor has successfully returned, then it becomes a conversation worth having. He also acknowledged the obvious reality that, even if the two are not in the same place competitively at the moment, McGregor’s name still carries enormous weight.
That is what makes this more than a passing comment. For Topuria, taking a McGregor fight would mean balancing legacy against spectacle. A win would give him mainstream visibility far beyond the hardcore MMA audience. For McGregor, it would be a chance to jump straight back into relevance in the sport’s deepest glamour division.
Topuria said, “It’s not something I think about, but if I get an offer for that fight ... we’ll see what position Conor is in. If he gets a win, if he manages to come back well, and I get an offer ... we’ll see. I never close the door on opportunities like that. Even if we’re not on the same level right now, he’s popular, and people know about him.”
Now the focus shifts to McGregor’s next move, because if he returns successfully, the UFC could have one of its biggest possible lightweight fights staring it in the face.