‘You Don’t Have the Courage’: Conor McGregor Fires Back at Terence Crawford Over Ilia Topuria Mockery
UFC Freedom 250 may have handed Ilia Topuria the most painful defeat of his career, but the White House spectacle also earned him an unlikely supporter.
Conor McGregor defends Topuria, unloads on Terence Crawford
The 29-year-old entered UFC Freedom 250 carrying an undefeated UFC record and the invincibility of 'El Matador'. But four rounds into the main event bout, he left Washington battered, bloodied, and without his lightweight title after his corner stopped the fight against Gaethje.
In hindsight, McGregor knows better than most what it feels like to suffer a stunning upset loss. The Irishman famously entered UFC 196 as a heavy favorite before being submitted by Nate Diaz in one of the biggest shocks in promotional history. That experience appeared to shape his reaction to Topuria's defeat.
"He quit himself. Sad to see. He earned a nice stripe, however tainted, he will get stronger from this beating. What a sport!" the Irishman wrote on social media.
While some fans interpreted the comments as criticism, the overall message was clear: McGregor believes the loss could ultimately make Topuria a better fighter.
Earlier this year, the Georgian-born star claimed he could make easy work of boxing greats such as "Bud" and Shakur Stevenson with his elite boxing skills. However, following Sunday's brutal loss, the boxing world returned the favour rather unapologetically.
Furthermore, the former UFC Lightweight champion doubled down on that stance after unbeaten boxer Crawford appeared to mock Topuria following the defeat.
Wasting little time, "The Notorious" fired back – "What the f*** are you saying? You can wrestle yet you are afraid of an MMA fight. That to me is pitiful."
He continued by defending Topuria's willingness to compete in arguably the most unforgiving combat sport in the world. He added, "The kid was beaten in an MMA fight, of which you don't have the courage for. What the f*** was with all these little boxers at this show yet no MMA fighters?"
Well beyond the aftermath of the event, the exchange quickly reignited the familiar boxing-versus-MMA debate that McGregor himself helped popularize during his blockbuster crossover bout against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
Even Roman Reigns wasn't safe from McGregor's Rant
Crawford wasn't the only person who found himself in McGregor's crosshairs during Freedom 250 weekend. After the UFC shared a photograph of WWE superstar Roman Reigns attending the White House event, McGregor couldn't resist taking a shot at the former world champion.
Responding to the post, the Irishman mockingly questioned Reigns' presence with a one-word post, adding another chapter to a rivalry that stretches back nearly a decade.
The history between the two dates back to 2016, when McGregor famously dismissed WWE wrestlers during the peak of his UFC stardom. Reigns responded at the time with a memorable jab of his own, claiming McGregor was "the size of my leg".
Years later, neither man seems particularly interested in burying the hatchet.
For McGregor, the online exchanges are part of what has made him one of combat sports' most polarizing figures. Whether he's reacting to title fights, trading shots with boxers, or poking fun at professional wrestlers, the Dubliner rarely misses an opportunity to insert himself into the conversation.
And with his long-awaited return against Max Holloway at UFC 329 rapidly approaching, it looks like McGregor is already back in full promotional mode.
