Conor McGregor stepped up to support Ilia Topuria after the featherweight champion revealed plans to retire from the Octagon once he reaches his physical prime.
Topuria is reportedly considering vacating the UFC featherweight title to focus on a permanent move to lightweight. Despite a history of public disputes with Topruia, McGregor unexpectedly backed him on his decision regarding the future of his career in the octagon.
Topuria had previously seemed on track for a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski as his next title defence. However, he has since changed his stance, openly discussing his shift in plans during a recent interview with the Spanish media broadcaster Juanma Castaño.
“I’m 27, and I hope to be done by 30,” Topuria stated. “Right now, I’ve lost the motivation to defend my title in this division.”
“Now, I want to move up a weight class and see how things play out.”
Topuria is considering a move to lightweight and potentially facing former champion Charles Oliveira next year. Currently, neither Oliveira nor UFC officials have responded to Topuria’s comments or his plans to vacate the featherweight title.
McGregor, who vacated the featherweight title after his knockout of José Aldo, sympathizes with Topuria’s decision and understands the reasoning behind his planned exit.
Conor McGregor Surprises Fans by Supporting Ilia Topuria’s Retirement Plans
In a recent post on X, McGregor responded to Topuria’s retirement by saying;
“Here’s the truth that will sting all the little wannabe nobodies,”
“Fighting was too easy for me, I did it all by 27.”
McGregor’s support for Topuria is unexpected, especially considering the tension between them. After Topuria’s recent featherweight title defence against Max Holloway at UFC 308, Topuria had issued violent threats toward McGregor following the latter’s invitation to “meet him in Marbella.”
Should Topuria move up to lightweight, he would aim to join McGregor and other UFC legends as a two-division champion. Conor McGregor, meanwhile, has not fought since his defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
McGregor, Topuria, and the Future of the UFC Featherweight Division
McGregor was set to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler but withdrew due to a toe injury. Chandler remains hopeful that the fight with McGregor will eventually happen, despite his recent loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.
Topuria claimed the UFC featherweight title earlier this year at UFC 298 with a knockout victory over Volkanovski. He remains undefeated in his career, with recent wins over Josh Emmett, Bryce Mitchell, and Jai Herbert.
Before their relationship soured, Topuria frequently praised McGregor and even called him out after winning the belt at UFC 298. However, McGregor hasn’t fought at 145 pounds since his knockout of José Aldo, and his current physique makes a return to featherweight nearly impossible.
If Topuria follows through on his plan to retire during his physical prime, he will join a small group of UFC stars to walk away while on top. Khabib Nurmagomedov did so in 2020 after defeating Justin Gaethje, honouring a promise he made to his late father.
With ongoing negotiations for a Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall fight, the UFC’s leadership may have to focus on other matters, especially if Topuria’s comments about retiring are serious. A shakeup in the UFC featherweight division could be on the horizon in 2025 if Topuria shifts his focus to lightweight.
Featured photo credits to Embed from Getty Images
