4 weeks ago
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As Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid on Saturday, determination was a Spaniard successful Abu Dhabi making definite football's El Clasico wouldn't predominate each header successful Spain the pursuing morning.
Not lone did Ilia Topuria bushed Max Holloway to retain his featherweight rubric astatine UFC 308, helium inflicted the archetypal knockout decision of the American's glittering career.
The 27-year-old's devastating show and archetypal defence of his loop means helium volition beryllium celebrated successful Spain, and not for the archetypal time.
After dethroning Alexander Volkanovski successful February to go Spain's archetypal UFC champion, Topuria appeared connected the beforehand leafage of Spanish work Marca - a uncommon feat for an MMA combatant successful a state wherever shot dominates the sporting agenda.
Topuria, who besides represents Georgia aft being calved to Georgian parents, past met Spain's president Pedro Sanchez, who granted him Spanish citizenship, external for his achievements.
And later, Topuria, a large Real Madrid fan, was paraded astatine the club's Bernabeu stadium earlier a crippled successful beforehand of 75,000 fans.
When Real walk mega wealth connected world-class footballers they are dubbed arsenic 'Galacticos'.
Does the UFC person a Galactico of their ain successful Topuria?
"Topuria did thing cipher has ever done before. He's legit. If you questioned the feline aft Volk, you can't question him now," said UFC president Dana White.
"When you support clipping legends you go a legend, he's connected the close path."
The UFC has agelong been searching for its adjacent planetary prima aft Conor McGregor elevated MMA into the mainstream conscionable nether 10 years ago.
Sean O'Malley had been earmarked by the promotion aft winning bantamweight golden past August, but decision by Merab Dvalishvili past period halted the American's momentum.
Popular light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has had a singular year, defending his rubric 3 times, but astatine 37 the Brazilian is successful the second stages of his career.
There is simply a void to capable portion McGregor's comeback continues to beryllium delayed and astatine 27, Topuria is amended positioned than galore to capable it.
He doesn't person the aforesaid charisma arsenic the Irishman, but wrong the octagon the Spaniard is arsenic arsenic impressive, with UFC commentator Daniel Cormier adding helium hadn't seen knockout powerfulness similar Topuria's astatine featherweight since McGregor.
While watching McGregor combat successful his premier it felt similar a viral infinitesimal was inevitable, and Topuria evokes a akin feeling erstwhile helium competes.
Since debuting successful 2015 helium has won each 16 of his fights, portion finishing 14 of his opponents.
White besides sees the worth successful what Topuria's prima powerfulness successful Spain tin bring to the UFC.
The UFC seldom big events astatine stadiums, but White says helium is consenting to marque an objection for Topuria, touting Madrid oregon Barcelona arsenic possibilities.
"When you look astatine the show Topuria had tonight, we request to get to Spain quickly," said White.
"I hatred going to shot stadiums, I similar going to arenas better. But if that’s what we've got to do, that’s what we’ve got to do."
Topuria had Real fable Sergio Ramos shadowing him during combat week, with the footballer by his broadside for the ceremonial weigh-ins earlier watching his triumph implicit Holloway astatine octagon-side.
Is it lone a substance of clip until we spot stars similar Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham pursuing successful Ramos' footsteps?
For Topuria, the reply is yes.
"When Real Madrid called maine I was precise blessed and excited and astatine the aforesaid time, it was like, 'I person to bring the UFC present 1 day'," said Topuria.
"The UFC has ever been precise large and recognised successful Spain, and it helps a batch that I person go a UFC satellite champion. The radical person idiosyncratic they tin subordinate to.”
English (US)