Ilia Topuria has his eyes set on the next challenge already! ‘El Matador’ recently secured the UFC featherweight title with a stunning knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. The build-up to the fight saw Topuria display supreme confidence in himself by claiming the title of ‘UFC World Champion on social media before the fight even occurred. On the other hand, the Australian had asserted that he was still a dangerous opponent despite the age difference between the pair.

But with a spectacular 2nd round knockout that left ‘The Great’ laid out on the Octagon canvas, Topuria claimed the featherweight title and ended Volkanovski’s long tenure as a champion. But it seems the newly crowned ‘king of UFC featherweights’ has already got a few options in mind for his future, which may include ‘The Notorious’!

Ilia Topuria sets his sights on Conor McGregor and others for his future fights

Ahead of his fight at UFC 298, Ilia Topuria had indicated his intention to face Conor McGregor at the renowned Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home of Real Madrid football club! In a pre-fight press conference ahead of UFC 298, Topuria revealed his intentions as he stated, “…I think I would put Conor McGregor, that’s the fight that I would make at the Santiago Bernabeu…”

His sentiments were echoed by UFC CEO Dana White after Topuria’s remarkable victory at UFC 298, as the UFC boss stated during the post-fight press conference, “Yeah, we are definitely going to Spain. Who he is going to face, we don’t know yet.”

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And so, in a recent update shared by Championship Rounds on X, Topuria was quoted as stating, “Ilia Topuria says that he will push as much as possible so that his next fight is in Spain and talks about three options as his next rival: Sean O’Malley, Max Holloway, and Conor McGregor”

It’s interesting to note that among the names on the list, Max Holloway and Conor McGregor are both former featherweight champions, although McGregor made his last appearance as a featherweight inside the Octagon in 2015 when he won the title from Jose Aldo at UFC 194. And Sean O’Malley holds the bantamweight title at the moment. 

As Topuria prepares for his next challenge, the MMA world eagerly awaits the announcement of his next opponent and the location of his next fight, which promises to be another exciting chapter in his burgeoning career.

Dana White Wants 80,000 Capacity Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu for UFC Debut in Spain for Ilia Topuria

But his most recent opponent, Alexander Volkanovski, has received a dire warning from a UFC legend about pursuing an immediate rematch against Ilia Topuria!

‘The Great’ cautioned against trying to reclaim his throne from Topuria too soon 

Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has cautioned Alexander Volkanovski against rushing into a rematch with Ilia Topuria, who recently defeated him at UFC 298. Volkanovski is eager for a rematch and is open to facing Topuria in Spain. However, Johnson doubts the wisdom of this decision, citing Topuria’s formidable power as a persistent threat.

In a video on his YouTube channel, ‘Mighty Mouse’ stated, “If they do a rematch, all Ilia has to do is touch him. He has to run away from Ilia Topuria for 25 minutes. … I truly feel like Ilia Topuria is a bad matchup for Alex Volkanovski because he doesn’t get frustrated.”

Johnson also expressed concern about Volkanovski’s chin, particularly in light of his recent knockout losses. He compared this vulnerability to that of other fighters who suffered successive knockouts, suggesting that Volkanovski’s knockout susceptibility may increase with each subsequent fight and the more damage he takes. As ‘The Great’ contemplates his next move, Johnson’s advice provides an interesting perspective on the risks he faces before committing to another fight with Topuria.

Do you think Ilia Topuria should rematch Alexander Volkanovski immediately? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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