As per sources, Conor McGregor, former UFC Double Champion is set to make his octagon return soon. And everyone wants a slice of Conor. It looks like the fight could take place against Spanish fighter Ilia Topuria at UFC Spain event.
Conor McGregor vs Ilia Topuria to take place at UFC Spain?
Ilia Topuria took to his Twitter/X account and made the massive pitch of the match.
“Topuria vs McGregor #ufcspain”
Topuria vs McGregor #ufcspain
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) December 29, 2023
‘Notorious‘ has been on the sidelines for a long time. In the trilogy bout against rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, McGregor suffered a broken fibula. He has been recovering on the sidelines after titanium shinbone insertion. Conor McGregor had been training hard and throwing powerful kicks in sparring sessions and it seems it will be a blockbuster return in Spain.
Ilia Topuria wanted UFC to host an event in Spain
UFC never held an event in Spain and they will have a blockbuster bout featuring Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor.
In the past, the featherweight division fighter had expressed his confidence that the promotion could sell out Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the home of Spanish football giants, Real Madrid. Speaking to Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour, Topuria stated:
“Seeing how MMA is growing in Spain, it’s crazy, because I remember when I started, no one knew anything about MMA. They were like, ‘Which sport is that?’ ‘What are you doing?’ ‘They punch each other?’ Crazy questions. Right now, everyone knows everything about MMA. Everyone follows the UFC.”
Topuria continued: “I’m pretty sure that if the UFC brings an event to Spain, they’re going to sell out, in one day, the whole arena… Madrid, Santiago Bernabéu, in that stadium. Yeah. They’re going to sell out. I don’t have any doubt about that.”
Previously, UFC CEO Dana White had also weighed in regarding UFC Spain. He had stated that Spain is major a European market that they will be expanding to in the new year. He made it clear the that the rising featherweight contender Ilia Topuria is the inspiration for the expansion as he is a big star in the country.