Ilia Topuria’s defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 last Sunday night was a genuine shock.
The Spaniard was younger, unbeaten and a heavy favourite, but he lost both his perfect professional record and his lineal lightweight title.
Given Topuria’s outspoken personality, many were never going to miss the chance to mock him. Boxing legend Terence Crawford joined in, but one of Topuria’s idols, Conor McGregor, quickly defended him.
Conor McGregor slams Terence Crawford after his Ilia Topuria tweet
After ‘El Matador’ lost for the first time in his 18-fight career, Crawford posted on X: “This the guy that said he would knock me out and whoop me and Shakur at the same time?”
It was a sharp response to Topuria’s previous confidence, but McGregor stepped in to back the UFC star.
“What the f— are you saying? You can wrestle yet you are afraid of an MMA fight. That to me is pitiful. The kid was beaten in an MMA fight, of which you don’t have the courage for,” the Irishman replied.
Conor McGregor support will matter to Ilia Topuria
Topuria and McGregor are not close friends, but their careers have long been linked by comparison.
The Spaniard has openly said he watched ‘The Notorious’ when he was younger and saw him as an inspiration, even if his view of the Irishman has changed over time.
The visual similarities have also been hard to ignore. Their back tattoos have often been compared, and Topuria’s confidence has regularly invited McGregor references.
That makes this defence significant. Topuria endured the worst night of his career, but an idol still chose to stand with him.
