Outside Source
Ilia Topuria isn’t giving up on his dream of a major crossover boxing match. | Getty/UFC
Ilia Topuria is doing his best to follow the Conor McGregor blueprint.
Earlier this month, the UFC’s reigning lightweight champion called out Terence Crawford ahead of the Nebraskan’s showdown with Canelo Alvarez.
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“I won’t talk about what would happen between me and Crawford in an octagon,” Topuria wrote on X. “I’ll talk about what would happen in a ring. I put him to sleep in the first contact!!”
I won’t talk about what would happen between me and Crawford in an octagon I’ll talk about what would happen in a ring.
I put him to sleep in the first contact !!— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) September 7, 2025
Crawford simply laughed it off during a media session in Las Vegas this past week.
“That dude’s drunk,” Crawford said. “A lot of MMA guys, they drink a lot, so he must have been on that alcohol that day.”
Crawford made a statement on Saturday night, earning a clear-cut unanimous decision victory over Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It’s a victory that firmly cements “Bud” as one of the greatest boxers of his generation.
Topuria to Crawford: ‘I’ll Teach You How to Dance’
That performance didn’t deter Topuria, who once again called for a future showdown with Crawford — and left the door open for a future meeting with Alvarez.
“First he calls me drunk… then he walks out to MY song,” Topuria wrote. “Crawford, whenever you want, I’ll teach you how to dance that mariachi in the ring. And Canelo, I’ll save you a round after him.”
First he calls me drunk… then he walks out to MY song. Crawford, whenever you want, I’ll teach you how to dance that mariachi in the ring. And Canelo, I’ll save you a round after him.
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) September 14, 2025
Topuria, who is coming off a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, has captured titles at lightweight and featherweight in the Las Vegas-based promotion. There has been no news regarding a potential Octagon return date for “El Matador.” While Conor McGregor was allowed to cross over for a massive boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, UFC CEO Dana White hasn’t seemed interested in engaging in similar promotional ventures with anyone on the current roster.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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