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

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).”

Ian Garry vows to finish UFC enemy Colby Covington in future fight: ‘I’ll beat the mouth off him’

Surging welterweight contender, Ian Garry has laid an eye-catching prediction for his sought after fight with former interim division…

Surging welterweight contender, Ian Garry has laid an eye-catching prediction for his sought after fight with former interim division gold holder, Colby Covington – vowing to “beat the mouth off” the outspoken veteran in front of ormer United States president, Donald Trump.

Garry, who made his Octagon return over the course of last weekend, turned in a dominant, albeit uneventful split decision win over Geoff Neal, improving the Dubliner to 14-0 as a professional to boot.

And off the back of his victory, Portmarnock native Garry has landed at number six in the official welterweight rankings.

Ian Garry targets Colby Covington grudge match

Shooting his shot for his next opponent, Garry firmly has his sights fixed on a fight with former interim champion, Covington – vowing to beat the Clovis native in front of former president, Trump if they share the Octagon.

“I’ll talk to him (Colby Covington) when I beat the f*ck out of him in the Octagon,” Ian Garry told MMA Fighting. “If (Donald) Trump’s in attendance, I will drag Colby in front of Trump, and I’ll beat the mouth off him, and I’ll say, ‘This is what you’ve created’. Boom. ‘This is MAGA.’ I’m like, ‘It’s not more. Get rid of him. Get him out of the UFC.’”

For Covington, the MMA Masters staple has been chasing a fight with former title chaser, Stephen Thompson since his most recent outing back in December – which saw him falter in a third attempt to become the undisputed champion, dropping a decision shutout loss to the incumbent, Leon Edwards.

Staking his claim for a potential Irish homecoming ever-since his eventual Octagon landing, Garry has since claimed that he may be too much of a “star” to make a return to Dublin, leading to outcry from fans to maintain the 26-year-old does not have ideas above his own station.

Does Ian Garry have what it takes to topple veteran, Colby Covington?

Video – Merab Dvalishvili slaps up, submits streamer Sneako following dominant UFC 298 win

Merab Dvalishvili hands out beating to live streamer ‘Sneako’, who can’t seem to catch a break. Internet grifter Sneako…

Merab Dvalishvili hands out beating to live streamer ‘Sneako’, who can’t seem to catch a break.

Internet grifter Sneako appears to be the latest unsavoury character to attach themselves to combat sports in order to boost their profile. Once a loyal follower of Andrew Tate and part of the ‘manosphere’ movement, the American influencer often does and says controversial things in order to maintain relevancy and continue to rake in those all-important views.

Now on his self-improvement shtick, Sneako has begun to amerce himself in the combat sports world, most recently going viral for sparring ex-champion, Sean Strickland. The former middleweight champion did not hold back, raining down shots even after the towel had been thrown in.

This time Sneako elected to train with the UFC’s No.1 bantamweight, Dvalishvili, and while he did not receive and heavy blows he was tossed around. Merab Dvalishvili would slap around and take down Sneako several times, mocking him as he did so.

What’s next for Merab Dvalishvili?

Dvalishvili is fresh off a win over Olympic gold medallist Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 and has finally secured himself a spot at the title. The win would mark the third win over a former UFC champion in a row — and Dvalishvili shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

“I’m unstoppable,” Dvalishvili said to TNT Sports following his win. “I can fight anybody, I’m ready. Next for me is the title, whoever will be champion I will fight.”

The 33-year-old’s next opponent will be decided in a clash between current champion Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera next month at UFC 299. However, Dvalishvili said he would prefer O’Malley out of the two.

“Sean O’Malley,” Dvalishvili answered. “He’s superstar, he’s champion now and I’ve wanted to fight him since 2018 since I won my first fight (in the UFC) I’ve called him out. That would be a good fight for me because it’s a big challenge and I would love to fight him, so hopefully.”

Will Merab Dvalishvili end 2024 as UFC champion?

Video – Merab Dvalishvili slaps up, submits streamer Sneako following dominant UFC 298 win

Merab Dvalishvili hands out beating to live streamer ‘Sneako’, who can’t seem to catch a break. Internet grifter Sneako…

Merab Dvalishvili hands out beating to live streamer ‘Sneako’, who can’t seem to catch a break.

What’s next for Merab Dvalishvili?

“I’m unstoppable,” Dvalishvili said to TNT Sports following his win. “I can fight anybody, I’m ready. Next for me is the title, whoever will be champion I will fight.”

Will Merab Dvalishvili end 2024 as UFC champion?

Ian Garry reveals he cried before UFC 298 fight with rival Geoff Neal: ‘I cried my eyes out and thanked God’

UFC welterweight Ian Garry reveals that he cries during the lead-up to a fight. Following his win over Geoff…

UFC welterweight Ian Garry reveals that he cries during the lead-up to a fight.

Following his win over Geoff Neal this past weekend, Garry finds himself as the UFC’s number six ranked welterweight and potentially one big win away from a shot at the title.

Unfortunately for the Irishman and despite his best efforts, he continues to amass a large group of detractors. He and his wife have reived an enormous amount of hate over the past few months, but Ian Garry refuses to change, still posting to social media, doing interviews and open up about his personal life.

Ian Garry reveals emotional state ahead of UFC 298

When appearing on The MMA Hour Garry rather honestly admitted that he cries during fight day, all the way up to after his warmup.

“As soon as I’m done with my warm-up, I give myself about 20 minutes to just calm the body down and let the body relax,” Garry said. “I put on all my gear – my headphones, my music, whatever it is, my jacket – and put my hood up. I get on all fours, put my hands on my head and my forehead to the ground, and I swear to God, Ariel, it’s instant tears. (H/T The Independent)

“It’s being grateful for the journey that I’m on, the abilities that I have, for the people that are here, for the people that I wish were with me sharing the journey.

Garry would liken the experience to that of taking off armour – to his credit there are not a lot of fighters who would admit to something like this.

“Throughout the day I just feel myself getting more and more emotional,” Garry continued. “The truth is I cry my eyes out and thank God for everything I’ve been blessed with. It’s like taking all the armour off me and then going out and just being myself.”

What do you make of Ian Garry?

Video – Thousands of Georgians gather in freezing weather to watch Ilia Topuria’s UFC 298 title win

Georgia has its first UFC world champion, and his name is Ilia Topuria. On Saturday night, ‘El Matador’ entered…

Georgia has its first UFC world champion, and his name is Ilia Topuria.

On Saturday night, ‘El Matador’ entered the Octagon with an entire country behind him. Less than two rounds later, he shocked the world with a sensational second-round knockout of featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkavnoski to claim the 145-pound crown. It was a history-making moment for Topuria and his transcontinental home country.

To give the rest of the world an idea of how much Topuria’s victory means to the country, MMA reporter and fellow Georgian Giorgi Kokiashvili shared a video of thousands of fight fans celebrating in the streets after their native son did exactly what he said he was going to do.

“Topuria is a great and had a tremendous performance. If he continues like this I think he will have a great future,” UFC CEO Dana White said at a post-fight press event.

Merab Dvalishvili gives Georgians another victory to celebrate

Ilia Topuria wasn’t the only Georgian fighter to deliver big at UFC 298. Earlier in the evening, bantamweight standout Merab Dvalishvili scored his 10th-straight win inside the Octagon, besting former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision.

With the victory, Dvalishvili was dubbed as the next man in line for a shot at the 135-pound title.