Ilia Topuria’s coach has poured cold water on a ‘Red Panty Night’.
Ilia Topuria’s coach has poured cold water on a ‘Red Panty Night’.
Jorge Climent was in the featherweight champion’s corner when he sensationally knocked out Max Holloway in the third round of their main event of UFC 308 on Saturday night.
Post-fight, Conor McGregor aimed a barrage of tweets at Topuria and implored the UFC to ‘call’ him about a potential fight with the 16-0 Spanish superstar.
However, Climent believes that match-up is unlikely to be next for Topuria.
READ MORE: Ilia Topuria hits back at Conor McGregor with violent threat after UFC 308 win… ‘Don’t cross paths with me ever’
Photo credit: BKFCIs Conor McGregor still a fighter?Conor McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg during a trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, despite the fact he recovered from the injury over a year ago.
During his time away from the Octagon, ‘Notorious’ has amassed an enormous net worth thanks to his fledgling business empire and new career as an actor.
The 36-year-old continues to talk about his comeback fight, and it’s believed to be in the works for 2025 – but Topuria’s coach has serious doubts about McGregor’s desire to fight again.
Climent told Submission Radio: “If [McGregor] really wants to continue fighting always the money fight is the better fight. But I don’t know if [Topuria] is good for him.
He added: “I think Conor is a someone who made a lot for the sport.
“But I don’t see now like a fighter. I see him like a movie star or, you know, I don’t think he’s really focused. And Ilia is very, very, very professional.”
On Monday, McGregor supported Climent’s statements by suggesting he’s retired from fighting in a social media response to a fan advising him against a comeback.
It remains to be seen if he was being genuine or just looking for attention.
Either way, Topuria’s trainer is focused on facing more serious competition.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCIlia Topuria’s coach wants Islam Makhachev nextTopuria predicts he’ll submit Islam Makhachev when they eventually fight, and his coach is so confident he wants his star client to face the lightweight champion next.
A rematch with Alexander Volkanovski is also on the table, but Topuria will not be traveling to the UFC legend’s backyard for a rematch after knocking him out earlier this year.
Climent said: “Look, I see Islam in the last fight with Volk he caught him with the kick. But if you see his [first] fight with Volk, he suffered and… I think it’s a good fight for Ilia”
“Islam, I think, is the fight. I think if he makes this at 27 years [old], he fights Volk, he fights Holloway, now Islam. If he finishes him [by submission], not knock him down because the great thing is to go in the place or speciality of his opponent.
“If he can finish Islam. Wow. I think this is very, very epic.”
He added about Volkanovski: “Ilia wants to fight in Spain, you know, because here, now we have a lot of fans. We are talking about this a lot of time.
“Asking for UFC [to] come to Spain and the other day Dana White said this year they’re going to come here. I don’t know when they going to do it, but I think his idea is do it here “
“I think Volk in a rematch is going to be more dangerous than the first time, because I think when he took the fight, it’s not the moment for a fight with Ilia.
“If I’m his coach, I tell Volk that moment is not the right moment. You have a KO [loss]. Only two months [before]… I think he has the time to recover, to think and do a better strategy with Ilia.”
READ MORE: ‘Didn’t age well’… Paddy Pimblett’s prediction about Ilia Topuria goes viral after 16-0 superstar knocks out Max Holloway at UFC 308
