Tag: Real Madrid

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria to take honorary kick-off at Real Madrid vs. Sevilla match at the Bernabeu

Ilia Topuria at Santiago BernabeuIlia Topuria will present his UFC featherweight world championship in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu…

Ilia Topuria at Santiago Bernabeu

Ilia Topuria will present his UFC featherweight world championship in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 25.

Following his shocking second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski in the UFC 298 main event, ‘El Matador’ received a hero’s welcome upon his return to the country he calls home — Spain.

On Sunday, Topuria will be in attendance for the massive football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla, featuring the return of football royalty Sergio Ramos. While inside Spain’s iconic 80,000-seat stadium, Topuria will introduce his UFC championship belt and take the honorary kick-off. Topuria confirmed the news at a press conference held upon his arrival in the country on Thursday.

Ilia Topuria Is bringing the UFC to spain

Even before he shocked the world in Anaheim, Ilia Topuria was already dreaming big, letting it be known that he hopes to one day bring the UFC to the Santiago Bernabeu for a showdown with one of the biggest stars to ever step inside the Octagon — Conor McGregor.

“If it was my decision, I’d fight Conor McGregor,” Topuria said when asked at the UFC 298 media day who he’d like to face at the Bernabeu. “That would be the fight I’d aim for, and that’s what I aim for.”

With his sensational performance against ‘The Great,’ Topuria took a giant step toward making that a reality. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed at the UFC 298 post-fight press event that the promotion would be heading to Spain.

“Yeah, we are definitely going to Spain,” White told reporters. “Who he is going to face, we don’t know yet. I have a lot of respect for Volkanovski; we will see how that plays out. But as long as there’s a venue, we are going to Spain. I like it (when asked about Santiago Bernabéu).”

Real Madrid Reportedly Keen on Hosting Conor McGregor UFC Fight at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid have reportedly expressed an interest in hosting a Conor McGregor-headlined UFC event at their 81,000 capacity Santiago Bernabeu Stadium during the football offseason. 
Per Alvaro Carrera in AS, the UFC is looking to expand its br…

Real Madrid have reportedly expressed an interest in hosting a Conor McGregor-headlined UFC event at their 81,000 capacity Santiago Bernabeu Stadium during the football offseason. 

Per Alvaro Carrera in AS, the UFC is looking to expand its brand into Europe, and Ireland’s McGregor is particularly keen to fight closer to his homeland so his fans do not have to travel so far—the Notorious’ last six fights have all been in the United States.

According to Irish radio station Newstalk (via Carrera), Real would be eager to host a UFC event with McGregor, 28, topping the bill, but it would have to take place “from May to July.”

A Los Blancos representative reportedly said the club would “be glad if we could make a UFC event; our stadium can hold more than 80,000 fans.”

The Bernabeu would likely be an incredible venue for a UFC event and Madrid would be a much more convenient location for McGregor’s Irish-based fans to travel to.

McGregor has a slight connection to the Spanish giants as well having met up with Real superstar Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer:

Per Carrera, McGregor’s first choice for a European-based fight would be Ireland, but bouts on the continent could well become more regular following “the public and commercial success of its recent event in Manchester.”

UFC President Dana White recently revealed that McGregor has made it clear he never wants to fight in Nevada again, per Fox Sports’ The Herd with Colin Cowherd (via Newstalk’s Daniel Kelly).

Five of his last six fights have been hosted in Las Vegas, but he will face Eddie Alvarez in New York at UFC 205 in November for his next bout. 

The UFC featherweight champion is moving closer to home by fighting on the east coast of the United States, and it seems he could now make a stop in Madrid to entertain the Bernabeu. 

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