Featherweight title challenger Ilia Topuria spurred further Conor McGregor comparisons with his move at Thursday’s UFC 298 press conference .
After a perfect 6-0 start to his career on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, a run that includes beatdowns of Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett, Topuria will look to make the most of his opening championship opportunity this weekend.
In the headliner of Saturday’s pay-per-view at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, “El Matador” will challenge the 145-pound dominance of Alexander Volkanovski .
Despite the Australian’s greatness in the weight class and ability to maintain his lengthy reign since a 2019 crowning, Topuria has displayed significant confidence in the lead-up.
That’s continued into UFC 298 fight week, during which the customary pre-PPV press conference saw the challenger take a page out of McGregor’s book.
The Georgian-Spaniard lifted the title away from Volkanovski and held it aloft, à la McGregor at the Dublin presser ahead of his victory over the great José Aldo back in 2015.