'Like two kittens' - Ilia Topuria predicts outcome of Conor McGregor comeback fight with savage put down

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria believes Conor McGregor has what it takes to defeat Max Holloway on his comeback next month.

The former two-weight UFC champion will officially return to the octagon next month, five years on from his last outing. McGregor hasn't fought since he broke his leg when he lost to Dustin Poirier for the second time at UFC 264.

It was unclear whether McGregor would ever return to the sport after that loss, with many expecting him to retire from fighting. However, there have long been rumours of a potential return to the UFC, and his comeback has now been officially announced as part of the UFC 329 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

McGregor's bout with Holloway will be the second time the pair have met in the octagon after the Irishman defeated Holloway in a three-round decision back in August 2013. In the time since McGregor's second loss to Poirier, Holloway has fought eight times during a run that has seen him challenge for and win titles.

Holloway won five of his eight fights in this time with his only losses coming against three current champions in Alexander Volkanovski (featherweight champion), Ilia Topuria (lightweight champion) and Charles Oliveira (BMF champion).

Despite this, Topuria has backed McGregor to make a triumphant return to the sport, though he is not exactly convinced it will be a fight high on quality.

“It’s a sh***y fight,” Topuria told ESPN Deportes. “But hey, it’s good for the sport. You have to admit that Conor is one of the biggest stars in the UFC.

“It’s like it has its pros and cons; he’s on the decline, and the only one who’s going to benefit is him, not the UFC…

“I’m sure he’ll try to put on the best show, all his antics suit him well. It’s going to be a stand-up, striking fight, no wrestling or ground fighting. I don’t think Conor is much worse than Max, they’ll be like two kittens touching each other.”

Topuria even teased the slim possibility of a future bout with McGregor, but stated there was a long way to go before that could become a reality.

He added: “They’ve already fought once, and he beat him. Conor should beat him, if you ask me who I want to win, who would be best for me. If he wins and then wins another fight, we can have that fight.”

Conor McGregor v Max Holloway full undercard:

• Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway (No. 4 ranked lightweight) — Welterweight
• Benoit Saint Denis (5) vs Paddy Pimblett (6) — Lightweight
• Cory Sandhagen (4) vs Mario Bautista (8) — Bantamweight
• Brandon Royval (4) vs Lone’er Kavanaugh (6) — Flyweight
• Gable Steveson vs Elisha Ellison — Heavyweight

Prelims

• Robert Whittaker (No. 10 ranked middleweight) vs Nikita Krylov (13) — Light Heavyweight
• Luke Riley vs Kai Kamaka III — Featherweight
• Damian Pinas vs Cesar Almeida — Middleweight
• Cody Garbrandt vs Adrian Yanez — Bantamweight
• Tracy Cortez (8) vs Wang Cong (12) — Women’s Flyweight
• Ode’ Osbourne vs Cody Durden — Flyweight