UFC 308: Real Madrid fan Ilia Topuria emerges as a ‘Galactico’

As Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid on Saturday, there was a Spaniard in Abu Dhabi making sure football’s El Clasico wouldn’t dominate every headline in Spain the following morning.

Not only did Ilia Topuria beat Max Holloway to retain his featherweight title at UFC 308, he inflicted the first knockout defeat of the American’s glittering career.

The 27-year-old’s devastating performance and first defence of his belt means he will be celebrated in Spain, and not for the first time.

After dethroning Alexander Volkanovski in February to become Spain’s first UFC champion, Topuria appeared on the front page of Spanish publication Marca – a rare feat for an MMA fighter in a country where football dominates the sporting agenda.

Topuria, who also represents Georgia after being born to Georgian parents, then met Spain’s president Pedro Sanchez, who granted him Spanish citizenship, external for his achievements.

And later, Topuria, a big Real Madrid fan, was paraded at the club’s Bernabeu stadium before a game in front of 75,000 fans.

When Real spend mega money on world-class footballers they are dubbed as ‘Galacticos’.

Does the UFC have a Galactico of their own in Topuria?

“Topuria did something nobody has ever done before. He’s legit. If you questioned the guy after Volk, you can’t question him now,” said UFC president Dana White.

“When you keep clipping legends you become a legend, he’s on the right path.”