Ilia Topuria Negotiating For Return, Not Opposed to Following Rival Conor McGregor Into Presidency Bid

¿Et tu, Matador? The smack dabbing apparent similarities are long-time coming between former UFC two-division champ Conor McGregor and Ilia Topuria. But now, the Spanish-Georgian fighter is willing to emasculate his once-idol McGregor and take over all his fandom. To that end, Topuria is already massively more popular now and hasn’t ruled out a Presidential bid someday.

Newly-crowned UFC 155-pound champ and #1 Pound-for-pound Ilia Topuria stitched it out of the same cloth as McGregor. From stealing Alexander Volkanovski’s belt at their presser to having a spine-long back tattoo; he did it all. After his UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira PPV main event highlight, Conor McGregor even gave “La Leyenda” his due and revealed a very old DM where Topuria said he’d be like Mac.

Matter of fact, ‘El Matador’ is the only other fighter to snag both the UFC 145 and 155 championship golds, other than McGregor. Topuria has not been back in ballot competition since his resounding victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June. While those like Arman Tsarukyan, Paddy Pimblett, and Justin Gaethje are scrambling to be his first defense, Topuria informs that negotiations are going on for his return.

Ilia Topuria says he is in negotiations to finalize his schedule for next year.

I asked him about a date, but he "doesn't know at this time".

I asked Tsarukyan, Gaethje, or Pimblett? "At this time, none of them". pic.twitter.com/I1Sqo8mIaH

— Álvaro Colmenero (@KOlmeneroMMA) September 11, 2025

In this, he follows McGregor’s suit as well; the first UFC lightweight champ to drag out his feet after winning the hardware, ‘The Notorious’ reduced his ballot participation in 2016 and tried other ventures. Some of it finally led to a bid for Irish politics that goes on even today. Topuria, 28, caught up with Álvaro Colmenero (for @KOlmeneroMMA) this week for WOW 22 and took a mickey out of the fact that if need be, he could be the new Prez of the Spanish Government someday as well.

Much like Conor McGregor, the Alicante-Georgian has had multiple nations rallying to his success and his three-knockout title campaign. Topuria was the 2nd Euro striker who ran up rumblings of a PPV title super fight at lightweight with Dagestan’s Islam Makhachev, much as McGregor once did with mentor Khabib. After Notorious. Topuria is also the only other fighter from the MMA/UFC side of things to make it as a 30 Under 30 – Forbes España A-lister.

When asked by Ilia Topuria, comparing him to McGregor, if he would be president of the Spanish government 🤣:

"The truth is that at this point in my life, I've never thought about it, but if the people need it, then of course I would,” he said in a relaxed tone. pic.twitter.com/UAFcy3mwAN

— Álvaro Colmenero (@KOlmeneroMMA) September 11, 2025

Widely and overtly popular, just like “Mystic Mac”, Topuria is writing quite the story and UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner has even tagged his for a UFC Spain affair. Already a good fit for a PPV title affair at the 80,000-seater Santiago Bernabéu, Topuria even got the nod and Mayoral ovations! Given his popularity, it won’t be a surprise if years from now, Topuria dabbles in some form of political podium for the Spanish Government.

Who could Ilia Topuria face next?

Newly minted lightweight champ Topuria’s long strain of Conor McGregor ends just there; Notorious holds no current rank in the athletes’ listings and has not fought in 4 years. Ilia Topuria has long emasculated him from his dwindling stardom, PPV king status, and global import. Even Best ESPY Fighter and brand striker Sean O’Malley recently said chasing that “McGregorism” and hoping to sell out future PPV churners has made him lose sight of the game.

No…Topuria’s future is currently at lightweight in active competition against active combatants. The No.5-ranked UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje has called for a title shot next. Ahead of a near-finish of Rafael Fiziev in their UFC 313 PPV rematch thriller, Gaethje made his intentions clear, pitching in on short-notice.

A winner of 3 out of his last 4, and a X9 FOTN Honors recipient, the reliable Human ‘Highlight’ thinks he has done enough to get that top shot. Despite recent bleak title fight updates, Team Ilia Topuria rep and manager Lukasz Orzel said to Kanał Sportowy (@Sportowy_Kanal) that Gaethje could be next. #2 lightweight and former No.1-ranked top contender Tsarukyan disagrees.

For one, the Armenian picked up on what ESPN post-fight desk analyst/coach Din Thomas once said about Gaethje flatlining at UFC 300. It gives bad optics when one was seeded as a #1 top contender. For another, Tsarukyan himself has a win over No.4-ranked Oliveira and was a top seed. With his UFC 311 pullout, the UFC boss has said that his second stitch role and weighing in for UFC 317 does not inherit him a shot, but it’s a positive step in the right direction.

After a quick SOTY contender and third-round TKO of Michael Chandler, lightweight Paddy Pimblett also makes the case. A prime Topuria rival since the last few years, he even had a charged face-to-face with him at UFC 317. In a very recent Kick^META Stream, Topuria guessed the Souser or Gaethje would be next.

Then there’s Max Holloway; the Spaniard made his only UFC 145-pound title defense with a KO over Holloway and the latter is keen to make it right. No.3-ranked lightweight on the official lists, after UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3, he has now dominated two former top contenders. UFC CEO Dana White has said that makes for the trademark of a proper title challenger and with his ranking, Holloway vs. Topuria 2 could be very possible.

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