Former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley believes that Ilia Topuria would knock Conor Benn out inside a boxing ring, if the pair ever fought.
Woodley fought Jake Paul twice in the boxing ring after retiring from MMA, and believes UFC Lightweight Title holder Topuria would actually stop ‘The Destroyer’ in his own sport.
Former UFC Champion Backs Ilia Topuria To Knock Out Conor Benn In Boxing
Ilia Topuria currently sits at no.1 in the latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings following his emphatic one-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317in June.
‘El Matador’ is now a two-weight UFC champion, having ruled at featherweight before making the move up to 155-pounds in his last fight. Now, Topuria is arguably the single biggest star in all of MMA.
Known for his frightening knockout power and boxing ability in the cage, former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley has backed the 28-year-old to make waves in the boxing ring too, if he were ever to try it.
Woodley himself tried his hand at boxing when he’d retired from MMA, sharing the ring with Jake Paul on two occasions. As someone who knows both sports, Woodley has actually backed Topuria to beat British star Conor Benn.
Benn is the 13/8 underdog with boxing betting sites ahead of his rematch with Chris Eubank Jr in November, but has mentioned Topuria’s name when laying down an open challenge to any MMA fighters.
In an interview with TNT Sports, ‘The Destroyer’ said he would be open to fighting someone like Topuria, and that UFC fighters quite often ‘disrespect us boxers’ before even trying to make the combat sports crossover:
“Any of these MMA lot want to come over to boxing, if you fancy somebody, you can come and get it. Nasty.
“Anyone wants to come over from the UFC… Ilia Topuria, I’ve got these hands brother. Disrespect us boxers, you’re all getting it,” Benn said in a deadpan manner.
However, former long-reigning UFC welterweight king Tyron Woodley actually thinks Ilia Topuria would knock Conor Benn out if the pair met inside a boxing ring.
"It's a f***ing liberty! Don't disrespect us boxers!" 😤
Conor Benn issues a warning to anyone who wants to come over from the UFC and box 👀 pic.twitter.com/S2GpUpkJJV
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) August 7, 2025
Tyron Woodley: ‘I Think He Knocks Him Unconscious’
In a recent interview with Action Network, former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley pulled no punches in how he thinks a fight between Ilia Topuria and Conor Benn would play out in the boxing ring.
Despite ‘El Matador’ being the MMA fighter and Benn being the professional boxer, ‘The Chosen One’ feels that Topuria would have too much for Benn inside the ropes.
Woodley even went as far as to say that Topuria would knock Benn out inside four rounds:
“I think he [Topuria] could do damage in boxing. He could even jump straight in against top guys in his weight. I don’t know the exact weight, but I think he can be a force. I think Ilia would beat Conor Benn.
“Benn’s got power, too, but Ilia’s cleaner, sharper, more technical, with the same power. Benn’s got a lot of power, but I’d say Ilia stops him. I’d got on record to say Ilia Topuria would stop Conor Benn, and I don’t think it would take more than four rounds,” said Woodley.
“It would take the first three to adjust to boxing clinching, range, and distance, but between rounds three and four, I think he knocks him unconscious,” concluded the former 170-pound UFC king.
Conor Benn’s next fight inside the boxing ring is of course a rematch with bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr on November 17. However, if he was to fight Ilia Topuria after that, Tyron Woodley firmly believes the two-division UFC champion would come out on top in emphatic fashion.
