Newly-crowned UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s historic title achievement has been hailed by the world’s most famous football club.
Topuria, 27, earlier this month became the first person of Spanish nationality to claim UFC gold when he landed a clubbing right hook on Alexander Volkanovski to fell the now-former featherweight champion in the second round in a fight which teased a new era in the organisation’s 145-pound fold.
Topuria, who also represents Georgia, has spent much of his life in the European country, had his achievement recognised by Real Madrid on Sunday ahead of the La Liga encounter with Sevilla, as he was paraded on the pitch ahead of kick-off where he met representatives of both clubs — including Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos who now represents Sevilla, and who has been a prominent supporter of Topuria throughout his rise to prominence in the UFC.
Whole Santiago Bernabeu is cheering for Ilia Topuria ❤
El Matador introduced his UFC belt in front of the 85,000+ Real Madrid fans! 🇬🇪🇪🇸❤️
🎥 Setanta Sports pic.twitter.com/ZwgScsVW1D
— Giorgi Kokiashvili 🇬🇪 (@iHeartGeorgius1) February 25, 2024
In the brief video clip, Topuria can be seen walking on to the pitch in Madrid in front of an estimated 75,000 supporters where he made his way to the centre circle to ceremonially take the first kick of the ball.
Topuria has been vocal in his desire to headline the UFC’s maiden trip to Spain, with his rival Volkanovski telling the media that he would be more than happy to meet him there in the main event.
It remains to be seen when, or even if, this happens, but judging by the support in Madrid we can probably guess that ticket sales wouldn’t be much of an issue for the UFC’s debut in another major European country.
Real Madrid claimed the win on Sunday, defeating Sevilla by a single Luka Modric goal to nil.
