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UFC CEO, Dana White, was “thrilled” by the prospect of hosting a pay-per-view (PPV) event in Spain, topped by the featherweight title fight pitting reigning division champion, Ilia Topuria, against … well, we never got that far.
Point is, the promotion had big plans for 2025.
Don’t buy that plane ticket just yet.
“We thought so, but no, because the first thing is that it is very difficult from the point of view from security to secure such a big event,” Topuria’s manager, Lukasz Orzel, told Kanał Sportowy. “Two, UFC does not want it at all, because of the quality of the show for the spectator at the stadium and in the arena are two different things. You would have to come see Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with binoculars.”
You won’t need super specs to see Topuria’s (problematic?) allegiance to Real Madrid.
“It’s also complicated due to the many events, concerts, performances, and so on, there is nothing available for this year and we are basically talking about two arenas in Madrid,” Orzel continued. “Barcelona wrote a letter said they do not want UFC because Ilia is a fan of Real Madrid and at this point, the topic died because UFC needs about half a year to prepare such an event in terms of marketing and so on.”
Sounds like Spain is the new Hawaii.
The 27 year-old Topuria (16-0) quickly established himself as one of the top names in UFC by scoring consecutive knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, two legendary featherweight bound for the promotion’s hall of fame.
“El Matador” is expected to return to MMA within the next few months … just not in Spain.
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