Islam Makhachev has spoken out about the comparisons between Ilia Topuria’s current fame in mixed martial arts and the historic rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. Speaking to Match TV, the former UFC lightweight champion acknowledged Topuria as one of the biggest media draws in combat sports today, but stopped short of equating the featherweight-lightweight champion’s trajectory to one of the sport’s most important feuds.
Islam Makhachev credits Topuria’s rise and rules out Khabib-McGregor repeat
“I don’t think it’s even close,” Makhachev said when asked if Topuria’s profile resembled McGregor’s mainstream reach. “But if you compare interests, he is one of the greatest. If you were to choose anyone now, he would be one of the greatest.”
topsHis meteoric rise through the UFC ranks following his knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski and capturing the featherweight title at UFC 298 in February 2024 catapulted him to superstardom. Topuria next defended his title against Max Holloway at UFC 308, delivering a third-round knockout before relinquishing the title to pursue championship opportunities at lightweight, which he won via knockout.
The rivalry between Khabib and McGregor, which ended at UFC 229 in October 2018, remains unprecedented in terms of generating widespread cultural interest outside of mixed martial arts circles. The feud began years earlier when the Irish fighter and the Russian wrestler crossed paths, and escalated through social media exchanges and personal confrontations. Tensions came to a head in April 2018 when McGregor attacked a bus carrying Khabib and other fighters at UFC 223, resulting in McGregor’s arrest. The final meeting produced what many consider to be the most important fight in UFC history, with Khabib submitting McGregor in the fourth round.
Makhachev’s skepticism of a new rivalry reaching these heights speaks to the unique personal nature of the Khabib-McGregor dynamic. The Russian fighter’s victory included a cage-side brawl that made headlines for weeks afterward, and the animosity between the two athletes continued well after their professional meeting. Khabib has since retired undefeated, while McGregor has remained relatively inactive, occasionally trading online with the fighter and his associates.
Topuria, on the other hand, has built his fame primarily through dominant performances rather than sustained verbal conflict. At 28 years old, the Georgian-Spanish fighter currently holds the UFC lightweight title after his defeat Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025 and achieved two-division champion status. His knockout victories at elite competition have turned heads, making him one of the sport’s most marketable fighters with endorsement deals from multiple global companies.
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