UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has mapped out a two-fight plan.
Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) expects his first title protection to be in opposition to former 145-pound champ Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), who knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April.
Nevertheless, Topuria nonetheless has his sights set on a megafight with Conor McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who returns in opposition to Michael Chandler within the UFC 303 headliner on June 29. “El Matador” is assured he might promote out the Santiago Bernabeu stadium when the UFC makes it’s anticipated debut in Spain subsequent yr.
“I hope to defend the belt with Max Holloway, after which I desire a battle with Conor McGregor hopefully,” Topuria advised Sportskeeda. “If he wins his upcoming battle, that’s the battle I’m in search of. So hopefully it’s going to occur.
“It’s going be the most important battle in MMA historical past – the most important ticketing, the most important pay-per-view, the most important every little thing. We’re going to have like 80,000 folks watching the battle (in particular person).”
Ideally, Topuria desires the Holloway battle to happen in fall.
“My goal is to come back again in September,” Topuria mentioned. “Proper now, we’re within the conversations, so we’ll see. If Max Holloway is ready to battle in September, we’ve got a battle. If not, possibly we’re going to the tip of the yr or one thing like that. I need to battle as quickly as potential as a result of subsequent yr, I need battle in Spain.”
You should definitely go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of combined martial arts.