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Ryan Garcia and UFC Champion Ilia Topuria Engage in Bitter Social Media Beef

What started as Ilia Topuria simply saying he would beat Ryan Garcia in boxing match has boiled over into a fiery war of words
James Hicken|
Ryan Garcia
Ryan Garcia | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia and UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria could be setting up a huge boxing fight after the pair have exchanged serious social media barbs following the Spaniard claiming he would beat Garcia if he went into boxing

It all began during an interview on the 'Kolmenero' YouTube channel, where Topuria explained his interest in a foray into boxing. The interviewer suggested Garcia, one of the biggest names in the sport and the UFC champion, gave a definitive response.

"Boxing is definitely something where i say 'Wow, I'd love to do that'. Topuria said. "But I'd love to do it with someone big, someone real with an established name. Someone who can add to my resume which I have worked so hard to build. I wouldn't want to put it in the hands of a nobody.

"[On Garcia], that would be a huge fight, I'd love it. I see a fight like Ryan Garcia being very comfortable for me. I think I would break him long before it gets to the judges decision."

Garcia quickly responded on social media in true Garcia fashion, mocking the champion's 'sipping tea' post-fight celebration. He also told Topuria that he might be a good boxer for a mixed martial artist, but he would be entering a whole different world in the squared circle and advised the UFC champion to stick to what he is good at.

"You are a damn good striker for MMA that’s it. Garcia said in his post on 'X'. "You wouldn’t be sipping on tea after our fight you would be eating thru a straw after our fight. Stay in your lane. I’ll gladly stay in mine.

That was far from the end of it, however, as the Spaniard had a response of his own, claiming Garcia's career is built on hype over skill and even invited Garcia to bring his next opponent, Conor Benn, because he would beat him as well.

"You built your name on hype," Topuria said. "I built mine by putting legends to sleep. I would give you a boxing lesson, we are not on the same level. Bring the guy you fight in September I would beat both of you in the same ring."

Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira
Jun 28, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ilia Topuria (red gloves) fights Charles Oliveira (blue gloves) during UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

What followed was a truly seismic exchange of words between two combat athletes at the height of their powers, filled with vitriol and cutting insults that could be the perfect prelude to an enormous crossover fight with the same hatred as the first super-crossover fight, Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor in 2017.

"I built my name sleeping guys that are way better boxers then you will ever be," Garcia responded You’ve seen many mma fighters try and you’ll just be another UFC hype job cashing out by getting knocked out by a boxer.

"The biggest win of your career came with steroids." said Topuria. "So that’s where your confidence comes from? Interesting"

"Aren’t MMA fighters notorious for all being on the juice," Garcia retorted. "Shut your a** up - now that you can’t stop talking we can really do this after my fight in sept just to FLATLINE YOU"

"You tested positive and still talk about 'flatlining' people," Topuria came back. "The confidence is artificial. The world already saw what you needed to win - juice in your a**."

"Yeah you are a weirdo - do your research, and don’t talk about anything in my a** weirdo," Garcia said seemingly ending the exchange for now. "You need a girlfriend again you acting real strange."

If Garcia and Topuria do hope to meet in the ring one day for a super-crossover fight, they will both have to overcome their next respective hurdles. Garcia just recently announced he will be defending his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn in September.

Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Topuria is deep into preparations to defend his lightweight title against UFC stalwart Justin Gaethje on June 14 on the famous Whitehouse card billed 'UFC Freedom 250', celebrating 250 years of the United States.

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James Hicken
JAMES HICKEN

James started his journalism career in 2024 and has written about a variety of sports, including Boxing, MMA, tennis and Formula 1, but his expertise is in boxing. As a former boxer, he has been published with Boxing News and the Independent, where he worked as a boxing writer - covering breaking news, analysis, interviewing notable figures such as Amir Khan and reporting from ringside. James was born in Birmingham in the UK before a brief stint of his childhood in New Jersey, and then returned to the UK as a teenager to finish his education and gain a Bachelor's degree from Newcastle University. When he isn’t writing, James enjoys a round of golf with his friends or lacing up his gloves and trying to emulate the fighters he loves watching, like Vasiliy Lomachenko and David Benavidez.