This week, the UFC’s featherweight division made waves, and for all the right reasons. First, Alexander Volkanovski reclaimed his 145lbs title at UFC 314, defeating Diego Lopes to capture the vacant gold. But the buzz didn’t stop there—UFC color commentator Joe Rogan created a stir with his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) MMA Show, Episode #166, featuring the man who vacated his gold in the first place, Ilia Topuria, as the guest.

The episode quickly became a hot topic, with discussions ranging from the turmoil in the lightweight division to the anticipated return of Conor McGregor. The conversation hooked MMA fans and Rogan’s regular listeners. It would be an understatement if we said that the episode’s success was staggering! The segment crossed 1.9 million views in just two days, setting the record as one of the quickest to breach this mark. Previously, UFC stars like Jiri Prochazka, Israel Adesanya, Belal Muhammad, and Khalil Rountree Jr. had been on the show, each garnering impressive viewership numbers. But none were as gargantuan as the one with ‘La Leyenda.’

However, not everyone was pleased with Topuria’s newfound spotlight. Dillon Danis, the 32-year-old fighter who once had UFC aspirations but never fulfilled his potential due to his controversial persona, responded on X  to the attention ‘La Leyenda’ received. Reacting to the episode’s success, Danis boldly declared, “I would crush all these.”

Meanwhile, Danis, who has expressed his willingness to fight anywhere—be it boxing or MMA—has had a tumultuous career path. Since his debut in 2018, he has fought just two MMA bouts under Bellator and one boxing match. After retiring, he recently sought a comeback in both boxing and MMA. The GFL promotion had planned to match him against KSI in boxing and Tony Ferguson in MMA, but both plans were delayed indefinitely.

Furthermore, Dana White has already dashed Danis’s hopes of ever fighting in the UFC, citing his involvement in the notorious post-fight brawl at UFC 229. The BJJ ace played a significant role in that altercation, and it has since haunted his career. His recent remarks show a strong desire to prove himself, though many see them as a sign of jealousy, especially considering his association with UFC megastar Conor McGregor. In fact, Danis even requested an invitation to Joe Rogan’s podcast, but Rogan has yet to respond. Now, with Ilia Topuria—one of McGregor’s biggest rivals—appearing on JRE, the tension within the Irishman’s camp is only expected to rise.

Ilia Topuria and Joe Rogan discussed Conor McGregor’s possible comeback

Although Conor McGregor wasn’t invited to the Joe Rogan Experience, his name became a hot topic when Ilia Topuria appeared on the show. It’s been more than four years since ‘The Notorious’ last stepped into the Octagon, and during this time, UFC’s spotlight has shifted to rising stars like ‘La Leyenda’, Sean O’Malley, and Paddy Pimblett. While the UFC star’s legacy remains intact, many now believe his days in the cage may be behind him. McGregor was initially expected to return at UFC 303 last year, but a pinky toe injury derailed those plans.

Nearly a year later, there is still no sign of his return. During a recent episode of the JRE MMA podcast, Joe Rogan brought up the topic with Ilia Topuria. Interestingly, the Georgian fighter turned the question around, asking the podcaster for his take on McGregor’s comeback. Rogan didn’t hold back, saying, “If I had to bet, no! If he really wanted to, he would have been back in the gym, had a fight scheduled, been drug tested, clean, training, gone through a camp, had a fight.”

Rogan went on to place the responsibility squarely on McGregor, not on Dana White or the UFC. He explained, “He had a broken toe before the first fight with Chandler… I get it! So heal that toe up. What’s that—two months? Broken toes take two months. Then you’re back in camp, reschedule the fight, and fight again.” Topuria didn’t mince words either. In response, he said bluntly: “He’s done.”

What do you think about Dillon Danis’s comments? Do you believe his remarks were made to support his teammate Conor McGregor, especially since Joe Rogan ignored the BJJ ace’s request and opted to bring Topuria onto the podcast instead? Share your thoughts below.