Javier Sanchez
Updated Sunday, February 18, 2024-7:49 p.m.
Crónica Topuria knocks out Volkanovski and becomes the first Spanish UFC champion
Previous Hollywood Stars, tickets at $6,500 and half a million purses
Last November,
Hunter Campbell
, the UFC's chief business officer, traveled to Barcelona to meet with
Ilia Topuria
and imagine the future together. For years, the largest mixed martial arts competition - that mix of boxing, kick boxing, judo or Greco-Roman wrestling - has been seeking to expand in southern Europe, but it has never had an opportunity like this. Finally, a level fighter: as of this Sunday Topuria is featherweight champion after knocking out
Alexander Volkanovski
in the second round , owner of the belt since 2019. Finally, a charismatic fighter: brand image, regular on prime time television, friend of celebrities -
Pablo Motos, Omar Montes, Sergio Ramos
... - and with five million followers on social networks between Instagram and TikTok.
"We are definitely going to go to Spain," confirmed
Dani White
, president of the UFC, about a plan that still has doubts. Where will it be? When? And who will Topuria face? Everything remains to be seen.
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Mixed martial arts.
Topuria knocks out Volkanovski in the second round and becomes the first Spanish UFC champion
Editor: JAVIER SÁNCHEZ
Topuria knocks out Volkanovski in the second round and becomes the first Spanish UFC champion
Before rising to world idol status with a direct shot to Volkanovski's chin in a packed Honda Center in Anaheim, Topuria had already repeated his goal. "I will open the Santiago Bernabéu," he announced before traveling to California, but the ambition may be exaggerated. Campbell himself, during his recent visit, pointed out that the event in Spain could be in Madrid... or in Barcelona.
In the United States, where it has its headquarters and most of its fans, the UFC has filled halls as large as Madison Square Garden in New York, the TD Garden in Boston or the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but it has never attempted the jump to the stadiums. On his international trips, to Australia, Brazil or Canada, he has done so, with a world attendance record at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne -57,127 fans-, but from there to filling the 85,000 seats at Real Madrid's home there is a difference. The Wizink Center or the Palau Sant Jordi seem more feasible options. In any case, it would test the love for contact sports in Spain, with few references in recent times. In fact, this century, the Topuria phenomenon can only be compared to the public moved by the boxer
Kiko Martínez
, who organized evenings at the Gran Canaria Arena or the Palacio de los Deportes in Gijón.
The young people and McGregor
Although this time it seems that success may be greater. Topuria's media pull is greater and mixed martial arts today has more pull than boxing among young people. It will also depend on the date and, above all, the rival. Starting with the day, only one thing is clear: it will be in 2025. This year it is likely that the Spaniard will fight again, that he will consolidate his title, but it should be in the United States and against some promising young man. Topuria has already said that the best of his weight, Volkanovski himself,
Max Holloway
or
Yair Rodríguez
, seem to him to be opponents of little interest due to their seniority and that he will confirm his dominance against another young and undefeated fighter like him, such as the Russian
Movsar Evloev
. After that, if he keeps his belt, the big match would come.
Armando ArorizoEFE
As his representative,
Pedro Dols
, confirms to EL MUNDO, Topuria's intention is to attract
Conor McGregor
, UFC legend, the best fighter ever. Will he get it? It will be another challenge. After three years out, McGregor will fight again this year, in the fall, against Michael Chandler and then it is not clear what he will do. He could retire permanently or go back to face the best, the Spaniard's intention.
For a duel between the two, Topuria would have to gain weight and expose himself to a bigger rival, although he has already assured that it would not be a problem for him. The presence of McGregor in the octagon would eliminate the biggest drawback for the UFC, the time difference between Spain and the United States and the consequent drop in Yankee viewers on PPV, and would open the doors of the Santiago Bernabéu.