Conor McGregor has taken a dig at Ilia Topuria after the Spanish-Georgian fighter publicly condemned the alleged attack on his close friend Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi. McGregor shared a mocking Instagram meme targeting Topuria, bringing back memories of one of the most controversial incidents in UFC history.

The Conor McGregor mocks Ilia Topuria story has quickly attracted attention across the MMA community, with fans discussing the Irishman’s social media activity and his reference to the infamous UFC 223 bus attack.

The controversy began after former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili accused Usman Nurmagomedov and members of his group of attacking him and a friend in a hotel lobby in Abu Dhabi on November 11. Dvalishvili shared a video showing visible injuries to his face, while footage of the confrontation was later circulated by Topuria.

Topuria strongly criticised the people involved and warned that they would be held accountable. However, McGregor soon entered the discussion, turning the situation into another social media exchange between two of MMA’s biggest personalities.

Ilia Topuria reacts to Merab Dvalishvili attack

The Ilia Topuria reacts to Merab Dvalishvili attack story started when the former UFC two-division champion shared footage that appeared to show the beginning of the hotel-lobby confrontation.

Topuria, who shares a close relationship with Dvalishvili, was furious after seeing the footage. He publicly condemned the alleged actions of Usman Nurmagomedov and the other individuals involved.

“You’re a bunch of cowards, and you’ll be held accountable for what you’ve done. You’re anything but real men,” Topuria wrote while sharing the video.

His message quickly spread across social media, attracting reactions from MMA fighters and fans.

The Georgian fighter later made another post claiming that Usman Nurmagomedov and some of his associates had reportedly been detained.

He also questioned how people who regularly speak about honour, respect and humility could allegedly become involved in such a confrontation.

Topuria’s original footage and angry post were subsequently deleted, but copies had already circulated widely.

His reaction was particularly significant because of his friendship with Dvalishvili and the existing tensions between Topuria and the Nurmagomedov camp.

Conor McGregor Instagram meme on Ilia Topuria goes viral

While Topuria was publicly defending his fellow Georgian, Conor McGregor found an opportunity to mock the former UFC lightweight champion.

The Conor McGregor Instagram meme on Ilia Topuria referenced McGregor’s infamous UFC 223 bus attack incident from April 2018.

According to reports, McGregor shared an edited version of the famous bus-attack image, replacing his own face with Topuria’s.

The meme appeared to suggest that Topuria was imitating McGregor’s controversial behaviour and personality.

It was a direct social media dig at the Georgian fighter, who had entered the controversy by defending Dvalishvili and criticising the alleged actions of Usman Nurmagomedov’s group.

The post quickly became another talking point among MMA fans, particularly because McGregor and Topuria have exchanged criticism on several occasions.

Rather than directly addressing the allegations surrounding Dvalishvili, McGregor chose to make Topuria the target of his humour.

The Irishman’s post also brought attention to the history between the two fighters, who have frequently been compared because of their confidence, promotional skills and outspoken personalities.

Why did Conor McGregor mock Ilia Topuria with the UFC 223 bus attack meme?

The Conor McGregor UFC 223 bus attack meme has a deeper reference to one of the most controversial episodes in the Irishman’s career.

In April 2018, McGregor and members of his entourage attacked a bus carrying UFC fighters and personnel at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The incident happened during fight week for UFC 223, which featured Khabib Nurmagomedov’s lightweight championship contest against Al Iaquinta.

McGregor threw a metal dolly through a window of the bus, causing injuries to passengers and damaging the vehicle. The incident resulted in legal consequences and became a major controversy for the UFC.

The attack was connected to McGregor’s bitter rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which eventually culminated in their highly anticipated fight at UFC 229 in October 2018.

By using an edited version of that image to target Topuria, McGregor brought one of the most recognisable moments from his past back into the spotlight.

The meme was especially interesting because the latest Abu Dhabi controversy also involved members of the Nurmagomedov camp.

McGregor’s long-standing hostility towards Khabib and his associates added another layer to the social media exchange.

Conor McGregor reacts to Merab Dvalishvili incident through Topuria

The Conor McGregor reacts to Merab Dvalishvili incident development has attracted attention because of the connection between the fighters involved.

Topuria and Dvalishvili are both Georgian MMA stars and share a close friendship. Their connection explains why Topuria publicly supported his compatriot after the hotel confrontation.

McGregor, meanwhile, has his own history with the Nurmagomedov camp dating back to his rivalry with Khabib.

The Irishman appears to have used the incident as an opportunity to take another shot at Topuria rather than directly comment on what happened between Dvalishvili and Usman.

It also highlights the ongoing tension between McGregor and Topuria, with both fighters having previously exchanged verbal attacks.

Topuria has established himself as one of the biggest names in modern MMA after winning UFC championships in two weight divisions. McGregor remains one of the sport’s most recognisable personalities, with his social media posts regularly attracting attention.

The latest meme has once again placed their rivalry in the spotlight.

Ilia Topuria defends Merab Dvalishvili amid Nurmagomedov controversy

The Ilia Topuria defends Merab Dvalishvili angle remains central to the story.

Dvalishvili accused Usman Nurmagomedov and several associates of approaching him from behind while he was recording an interview in a hotel lobby.

He shared footage of his injuries, showing blood around his nose and significant swelling around his left eye. He also claimed that approximately 20 people were involved in the confrontation.

The incident has revived the history between Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman’s brother.

Dvalishvili defeated Umar by unanimous decision at UFC 311 in January 2025, successfully defending his bantamweight championship. Their rivalry has continued through public exchanges and tensions involving people associated with both camps.

The Merab Dvalishvili Usman Nurmagomedov viral video has since become one of the most discussed MMA clips of the week.

Topuria’s decision to share the footage and publicly criticise the alleged attackers brought even more attention to the controversy.

Meanwhile, the complete circumstances of the altercation and the individual responsibility of everyone involved remain matters requiring clarification.

Dvalishvili was scheduled to face Marlon Moraes in a wrestling contest at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14. His participation remained an important question following the incident.

For now, McGregor’s Instagram meme has added a fresh dimension to an already heated MMA story.

Whether Topuria responds to McGregor’s latest dig remains to be seen. With several high-profile fighters now connected to the controversy, the social media exchanges could continue in the coming days.

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