In a recent statement, O’Malley didn’t hold back in his critique of Ilia Topuria, addressing his disbelief over Topuria ranking higher than himself in the pound-for-pound standings.
O’Malley pointed out the physical differences and the number of title defenses as reasons for his surprise, emphasizing that his tweet was merely stating facts rather than aiming for humor. Despite receiving backlash, O’Malley expressed indifference towards his pound-for-pound ranking, dismissing its significance in his priorities.
![Ilia Topuria](https://sportsaldente.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Ilia-Topuria.jpg)
Regarding Topuria’s fighting future, O’Malley drew comparisons to Cody Garbrandt, predicting a decline after facing tougher competition like Max Holloway. Despite acknowledging Topuria’s skills, O’Malley maintained a dismissive attitude, adding a blunt “f*** Ilia” to his comments.
The question remains whether these strong words will lead to a future showdown between O’Malley and Topuria. If such a fight were to materialize, speculation about the favorite would be rife among fans and pundits alike.