Ilia Topuria > Conor McGregor

[haj02]

Conor's best legitimate win is Marcus Brimage.

Although a joke, an interesting fact is that 15 fights into Conor's career - Marcus Brimage was his best win and he'd already suffered two losses. He'd fought mostly guys without wiki pages at that point other than Joseph Duffy who beat the brakes off him and strangled him. Ilia on the other hand has wins over Ryan Hall, Bryce Mitchell, Josh Emmet and Alexander Volkanovski along with being UFC FW champion. The facts are clear that 15 fights into their career it looks like Ilia is on trajectory to be a way more accomplished MMA fighter. He probably will never hit the levels of stardom that Conor has but he's clearly looking like the better fighter.

 

[Lee Danger]

Conor wasted Dustin, max and Aldo in his FW run.

his run was Brimage, Brandao and Dennis Siver... plus he never defended, which is probably the biggest sin in all combat sports.

 

[jx820]

Let's put this on hold and circle back in 5 years or so for a proper comparison.

 

[b00tysweat]

his run was Brimage, Brandao and Dennis Siver... plus he never defended, which is probably the biggest sin in all combat sports.

those men also fell before Conor.

So did Mendez

 

[Zaar]

Conor had a great run back in the day.
He changed the game, more or less, so to speak.
No one should deny him that, despite all of us witnessing what he's become over the years.
Having said that, as much as he was relevant back then, he's kinda irrelevant nowadays, so I'm not sure why the comparison in the first place.

 

[ExitLUPin]

lol not even close.

Conor wasted Dustin, max and Aldo in his FW run.


Illia beat a guy coming off a devastating knock out to a LW

Conor beat a 21yo Max who had 3 years of MMA experience fighting, had 9 fights and just lost to Dennis Bermudez

He beat a FW Dustin who was never elite like he was @ LW without weight cut. FW Dustin was a top 10 FW but wasnt an elite FW and always got waxed decisively by top FWs like KZ and Cub before he ever fought Conor. Dustin wasnt beating elite FWs like he was beating elite LWs when he moved back up to his real weight. @ FW he was beating baby Max, Pablo Garza, Jonathan Brookins, Akira Corrasani, Diego Brandao....

Lettuce not pretend Conor beat a prime Max or prime Dustin. The Emmett that Ilia beat was better than 2013 Max and probably beats that version of Dustin too.

 

[OldBoy91]

He’s brain dead, he’s literally 60 years old and is always bringing up how much longer he’s been watching combat sports than other people. Then he puts up essays in every post and insults people cause he’s lonely

Don't forget how he's won 100s of prison boxing fights. Is undefeated and has never been rocked or dropped, because to be rocked or dropped shows a sign of weakness.

 

[RonDante]

Don't forget how he's won 100s of prison boxing fights. Is undefeated and has never been rocked or dropped, because to be rocked or dropped shows a sign of weakness.

Yep, I made a joke about how the elderly are supposed to be more respectful and he starts bragging about how violent his crimes were that he got arrested for

 

[Private Whatley]

Conor was larger with a more powerful, dynamic striking style at 45 along with a supernatural charisma that jumped off the screen. However, Ilia is the more complete fighter. His grappling, submissions, gas tank, chin and grit are far greater. Both he and Volk exemplify complete fighters with no weaknesses. We’ve had complete fighters like Jones and GSP who were good everywhere but had clear combat bases and/or preferred modes of fighting. Topuria is a true complete martial artist a la Mighty Mouse. I’m very high on his ceiling.

 

[Hazuki Ryo]

What about Whittaker getting ANNIHILATED though? Lol.

This. Thread invalidated

 

[JoeRowe]

Ilia is who Bektic was supposed to be, in my eyes. Anyone remember Mirsad Bektic?

 

[Tornikidou]

People sayin Ilia has insane insane stamina now?

 

[Private Whatley]

He has the same career trajectory without the magnetism. That’s not his fault. Conor struck at the right time, had what was then a distinct look, spoke English, and represented a nation with a proud fighting tradition with whom the American fanbase shares a close kinship. He was lightning in a bottle.

As fighters, they’re similarly accomplished but I see a much deeper skillset with Topuria. Beyond the highlight KO’s, he’s dispatched two grappling savants in their realms and he’s shown that he can maintain a pace and recover when hurt.

Conor is hell wheels for the first few minutes, but he can’t sustain the intensity particularly when it’s being tossed back at him.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Max had just began his prime and went on a 13 fight win streak after his loss to Conor

Going on a win streak doesn't mean his prime started. He was fighting Will Choppe and Andre Fili right after McGregor, not exactly near his top wins.

He was not in his prime 11 years ago. He is a much better fighter today than he was in 2013.

 

[blaseblase]

It feels very random to be comparing these two.

 

[mjfan23]

Conor beat a 21yo Max who had 3 years of MMA experience fighting, had 9 fights and just lost to Dennis Bermudez

He beat a FW Dustin who was never elite like he was @ LW without weight cut. FW Dustin was a top 10 FW but wasnt an elite FW and always got waxed decisively by top FWs like KZ and Cub before he ever fought Conor. Dustin wasnt beating elite FWs like he was beating elite LWs when he moved back up to his real weight. @ FW he was beating baby Max, Pablo Garza, Jonathan Brookins, Akira Corrasani, Diego Brandao....

Lettuce not pretend Conor beat a prime Max or prime Dustin. The Emmett that Ilia beat was better than 2013 Max and probably beats that version of Dustin too.

Josh Emmett the journeyman? Lol ok if you insist.

There’s a reason Max is still elite: the division didn’t improve and likely got worse! Hell aldo was still picking up wins years after Con man knocked him out of his prime and title reign days.

Now Conors overall sample of success at ufc FW is very small he went up to LW (in the most spectacular fashion) and never came back. To be a true GOAT he needs title defenses etc but Illias sample size is even weaker on competition and star power.

 

[ilfirin]

He's infinitely more well-rounded if nothing else. And arguably a better knock out artist too tbh.

 

[spooNN]

Conor beat 3 of the FW GOATS

Max was not a GOAT when he was 21 when they fought.