There’s no doubt that in every sport, many athletes follow in the footsteps of the bigger superstars to reach the top, and in the UFC, no one is bigger than Conor McGregor. So, whenever a fighter starts to gain hype, they inevitably get compared to the Irishman. From Sean O’Malley to other rising stars, it’s always the case. Now, UFC fighter Dan Hooker claimed that Ilia Topuria is following McGregor’s playbook.
In a recent chat with Submission Radio, Dan Hooker weighed in on the Ilia Topuria hype and shot down the rumors about him moving up to lightweight. Hooker believes Topuria is following the Conor McGregor blueprint. According to Hooker, Topuria is focused on staying at featherweight, with a potential showdown against Alexander Volkanovski on the horizon, making the lightweight talk just part of the hype.
“It’s pretty evident he’s just working off McGregor’s playbook. Line 1 of McGregor’s playbook is ‘Keep Your Name in Headlines.’ The guy doesn’t fight that often. I think he just fights Volk sometime next year,” he said.
Dan Hooker doesn't think Ilia Topuria will actually move up to 155:
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 21, 2024
"It's pretty evident he's just working off McGregor's playbook. Line 1 of McGregor's playbook is 'Keep Your Name in Headlines'…
The guy doesn't fight that often. I think he just fights Volk sometime next… pic.twitter.com/I7plhiGlM4
Indeed, Topuria first made waves by saying he had already fought his last fight at 145lbs, only to later announce that he isn’t vacating the belt. Those two contrasting statements only add fuel to Hooker’s point that Topuria might just be playing the headline game. It looks like the rising star is keeping fans on their toes, stirring up buzz while keeping his next move shrouded in mystery.
Ilia Topuria Says He Has No Interest In Fighting Conor McGregor
While Topuria once expressed interest in fighting McGregor and even shared that dream, it now seems to have faded. In a recent interview with El Chiringuito TV, Topuria revealed he no longer wants to be associated with McGregor, citing the Irishman’s ongoing legal issues as the reason for distancing himself.
“It interested me, but it doesn’t anymore. He’s going through very serious personal problems. I have no desire to share the octagon with someone like that,” Topuria said.
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Indeed, it’s going to be interesting to see who Topuria faces next and what his next move will be. With all the twists and turns, he’s keeping everyone on their toes, constantly guessing what’s coming next.
