Moises Arrieta
San Sebastian
Sunday, October 27, 2024, 1:26 p.m.
| Updated 1:55 p.m.
Ilia Topuria successfully defended her UFC championship last night after defeating Max Holloway by KO in the third round, in the fight for the featherweight world title. Furthermore, with this victory ‘El Matador’ continues his unbeaten streak in his career with a 16-0, which projects him to establish himself as one of the best MMA fighters in history.
The fight has also had the same degree of impact beyond the limits of the octagon, since Topuria has received the support of renowned public figures from before his fight until its end.
Among the many VIP guests who were able to witness the fight live at the Etihad Arena in Dubai, was the influencer Hashbulla, one of the most recognized and famous worldwide, or the Spanish Marta Díaz. However, it was the King Emeritus, Juan Carlos I, who starred in one of the most striking moments of the night when the Hispanic-Georgian fighter did not hesitate to go to greet him and kiss him on the forehead while he celebrated his victory among the public.
The former Sevilla and Real Madrid footballer, Sergio Ramos, was another of the great protagonists. The Andalusian was one of the luxury guests at the fight and, at the end of the round and after celebrating effusively in front of the cameras, he did not hesitate to get into the ring to take some photos and congratulate Topuria right there. However, both Real Madrid fans were unable to celebrate another victory in the classic, after the white team’s 0-4 defeat, which they found out about shortly afterwards, during the post-match press conference. “No problem, always come to Madrid,” Topuria exclaimed.
Another social media celebrity to enter the topic was the well-known streamer/youtuber Ibai Llanos, who made a video with Topuria before their fight. An audiovisual piece that has more than 2 million views on YouTube and was created from the fighter’s personal gym. In that talk between the two, they discussed, among other topics, the preparation for their fight against Holloway. There Topuria assured that he was “one hundred percent convinced of winning.” “That victory has been mine for a long time.”
McGregor reta Topuria
As for the stars of his sport, the most controversial was Conor McGregor, former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, who also has a record of 22-6, with 19 victories by knockout and one by submission. The Irishman boasted of having bet $500,000 against Topuria, however after his victory, he posted, on Twitter, “call me.”
However, at the end of the match and after hearing McGregor’s words at the press conference, the only thing Topuria said was: “Let me call him? To have drinks it will be because to fight…». The possible combat has been increasing its options as the hours progress. Even one of the best-known journalists in this sport, Ariel Helwani, assured that this fight “would be one of the best in history.”
In any case, Topuria confessed that he was inspired “by Conor, I admired him when I was little, I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” since he is “an example of faith, that everything can be achieved, of work, of perseverance, of effort.” “However, he noted that “he has lost the values that had taken him there.”
Furthermore, regarding other fighters like McGregor or Holloway, he assures that “on a sporting level, at my weight and the next there is no one” who can beat him.
