Ilia Topuria and Ryan Garcia traded public threats after Topuria said Garcia would be a comfortable boxing matchup for him.
Topuria is unbeaten at 17-0 in MMA, while Garcia’s boxing record stands at 25-2 with one no contest.
Topuria addressed the idea in an interview clip shared by Championship Rounds. The UFC lightweight champion said he would box only if the opponent was big enough to add to his career, then Garcia’s name came up.
“Boxing is something that I would love to do, but I would love to do it with someone big, with someone with a stable name, someone who adds to my sports career.”
“I see a fight like Ryan Garcia being very comfortable for me. I would break him long before it gets to the judges decision.”
Watch the clip below:
Ilia Topuria says he would "break" Ryan Garcia in a boxing match 👀
"I see a fight like Ryan Garcia being very comfortable for me. I would break him long before it gets to the judges decision."
(via @KOlmeneroMMA) pic.twitter.com/EyaxbeIcSP
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 21, 2026
Topuria’s boxing talk has been building since he won UFC gold. Shakur Stevenson has already challenged Topuria to a boxing match, and Topuria’s knockout of Charles Oliveira to win the UFC lightweight title only made the crossover chatter louder.
Garcia answered by saying Topuria’s striking success in MMA would not carry over cleanly to boxing.
“You are a damn good striker for MMA that’s it. 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.”
Topuria fired back with his own shot at Garcia’s name value and challenged him to bring his next opponent too.
“You built your name on hype, 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.”
Garcia then pushed back on Topuria’s boxing confidence.
“I built my name sleeping guys that are way better boxers then you will ever be. 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.”
See that exchange below:
Things are getting heated between Ilia Topuria and Ryan Garcia 😳
🗣️ Ryan: “You wouldn’t be sipping on tea after our fight, you’d be eating through a straw. Stay in your lane.”
🗣️ Ilia: “You built your name on hype, I built mine by putting legends to sleep. I would give you a… https://t.co/haFd4w08v0 pic.twitter.com/P9hSSZZ7Gd
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 21, 2026
Topuria Brings Up Garcia’s Overturned Haney Win
The exchange got sharper when Topuria brought up Garcia’s 2024 fight with Devin Haney. Garcia originally won by majority decision, but the result was later changed to a no contest after he tested positive for Ostarine.
“The biggest win of your career came with steroids. So that’s where your confidence comes from? Interesting”
Garcia answered with a broad shot at MMA fighters and again pointed to a possible fight after September.
“Aren’t mma fighters notorious for all being on the juice – shut your ass up – now that you can’t stop talking we can really do this after my fight in sept just to FLATLINE YOU.”
Garcia’s positive test before the Haney result was changed is the reason Topuria had the PED angle available. No Topuria vs. Garcia fight has been announced.
See the PED exchange below:
Ilia Topuria called out Ryan Garcia for testing positive for PEDs 😬
🗣️ Ilia: “The biggest win of your career came with steroids. So that’s where your confidence comes from?”
🗣️ Ryan: “Aren’t MMA fighters notorious for all being on the juice? Shut your ass up.” https://t.co/Bpt8nCZbn9 pic.twitter.com/VRx4WKEGyp
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 21, 2026
