Ilia Topuria, who won the title at UFC 298 will be an honorary guest in Bernabeu, Spain. He will present his belt to the large crowd at Bernabeu Arena right before the Real Madrid and Sevilla match. Following his second round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski, he received a hero like welcome back to what he calls home, in Spain.
Many UFC champions get a warm hero welcome when coming back to their country. Just like the scenes for Dricus Du Plessis when he returned to South Africa. A whole airport screaming and chanting your name as you are the newly crowned champion. Many others received a welcome like that. Other fighters like Israel Adesanya, Islam Makhachev, Charles Oliveira, and Jan Blachowicz to name a few. All of them got their special welcome back home as a champion. However, this is a first for Spain in the UFC. No other fighter brought back the belt to such an eccentric country.
Spain is mostly known for their love for football. Or soccer for us North American people.
Ilia Topuria Bernabeu Bringing the Belt Back to Spain
Last weekend, Ilia Topuria announced he would be in attendance for the football/soccer game of Real Madrid vs Sevilla. This game will take place at the iconic Bernabeu Arena in Spain. This would be the first time that a UFC champion would be introduced during a football match. A crossover long overdue. While in attendance, there will be a special presentation for Ilia Topuria. He will have the chance to show off his new belt to the Spaniards. As well, as a ceremonial kick off for the featherweight champion.
During the post fight press conference at UFC 298, Dana White talked about bringing the UFC to Spain. He mentioned that Ilia Topuria defending his belt in Spain is what he wants to see next. That is a market Dana hasn’t brought the UFC to, yet. Now with a fighter calling Spain home, no better opportunity for White would show itself to him like this one.
Dana White was asked about Santiago Bernabeu.
“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!”
If this happens, this would be the biggest venue the UFC would go to which seats 80,000 people.
Quotes taken from UFC 298 Dana White’s post fight press conference.
Would you like to see the UFC go to Spain? Who would you like to see Ilia Topuria defend his belt against? Let us know in the comments.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Image
