Overview

• Fresh off defeating Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford told Ariel Helwani and Uncrowned he has never seen Ilia Topuria fight, labeled him a clout chaser, and argued Topuria is nowhere near Conor McGregor’s level or worth a comparable payday.
• Ilia Topuria responded on X, saying Crawford previously wished him luck in person, posting a Full Send Podcast clip to dispute Crawford’s memory, and warning he would knock the boxer out while pitching MMA’s pound‑for‑pound versus boxing’s.
• The spat intensified after Crawford’s ring walk used Canción del mariachi, a song commonly associated with Topuria’s UFC entrances.
• Michael Bisping suggested the matchup could be feasible due to combined fan bases and recent cross‑promotion links, whereas Daniel Cormier questioned whether Topuria currently has the star power to draw Crawford.
• No negotiations have been reported and significant barriers remain, including UFC control and Dana White’s lack of interest, even as Topuria is 17‑0 as UFC lightweight champion and Crawford is 42‑0 as undisputed super middleweight champion.