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‘Conor McGregor Carbon Copy’: Ilia Topuria gets Flamed by Nemesis Paddy Pimblett
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Ilia Topuria has rapidly risen to stardom, becoming one of the most electrifying names of the UFC’s current generation. After claiming the featherweight title, he confidently moved to the lightweight division and became a second-division champion last weekend. His meteoric rise and fearless ambition drew instant comparisons to Conor McGregor, another icon who conquered multiple UFC divisions.

Since his debut, Topuria has frequently been accused of mimicking McGregor’s style and antics to gain public attention. His recent knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 drew comparisons to McGregor’s iconic finish of Jose Aldo in 2015. Speaking on UNFILTERED UFC, top lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett broke down the similarities and criticized Topuria’s lack of originality.

He’s trying to be Conor McGregor. He’s got the same tattoos. He even said the other day, ‘I’m gonna put my balls on your forehead,’ which is something McGregor said to Chad Mendes. He’s just a carbon copy of McGregor. I think some people can see through that. Even though you see some people now saying he’s better than McGregor, but he’s not. In their prime, at the same time, McGregor would have knocked him out with a straight left.

Paddy Pimblett via Unfiltered UFC

Topuria once openly admired McGregor, praising his fighting style and the impact he had on the sport during his prime years. However, the dynamic shifted after Topuria gained fame, leading to tension and eventual clashes between the two on social media. ‘El Matador’ later criticized McGregor harshly, calling him an addict who ruined his legacy through scandals and reckless behavior.

Following his UFC 317 win, McGregor praised Topuria’s performance and acknowledged his impressive three-fight knockout streak with respect. Before finishing Oliveira, Topuria had also brutally knocked out former champions Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski in dominant fashion.

These consecutive wins catapulted him to the pound-for-pound number one spot, dethroning former long-reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the rankings. The knockout power that the Georgian-Spanish star possess is something that was absent in the lower weight classes for many years.

UFC veteran fanboys Ilia Topuria’s knockout

Ilia Topuria initially set his sights on Islam Makhachev, aiming to become a two-division champion by dethroning the lightweight king. However, due to the Dagestani’s welterweight move, Topuria was instead matched up against former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. ‘El Matador’ boldly predicted a first-round knockout against the Brazilian, promising fans another explosive performance inside the Octagon.

Oliveira, on the other hand, remained confident and vocal about reclaiming the lightweight title, dismissing Topuria’s chances as overhyped. Despite his experience and resume, Oliveira failed miserably. He was knocked out in under ninety seconds by a perfect punch. UFC veteran Michael Bisping talked about the knockout in detail in his latest YouTube podcast with Paul Felder.

That was one of the most vicious knockouts that I can remember in recent history because the right hand was devastating. Then [Topuria] throws the left hook. [Oliveira] was already unconscious. He headbutts his own knee on the way down. He’s unconscious with the eyes open, which is what made it look so haunting. And then Topuria’s hammer fisting him, and his head’s bouncing around with his eyes open. And I hate to say it, but it looked like he had been shot in the head. He looked like a dead man. It was vicious.

Michael Bisping via Believe You Me Podcast

Following his win, Topuria has been called out by top contenders Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan. Both have publicly insulted the champion, hoping to provoke a response and secure a title shot. With rising tension and growing hype, it remains to be seen how the UFC decides to navigate these exciting lightweight matchups.

 

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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