It’s not typically you’ll discover a Actual Madrid fan who hates Cristiano Ronaldo.
However this appears to be the case for UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
4
Topuria has beforehand admitted his allegiance to Spanish giants Madrid, particularly within the lead as much as his final bout at UFC 308, however would not have time for his or her membership legend Ronaldo.
He walked out to the weigh-ins for his battle with Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi with former defender Sergio Ramos, who gained 22 trophies, together with 4 Champions Leagues and 5 La Liga titles enjoying for Actual Madrid.
In February, quickly after he grew to become a UFC champion for the primary time by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, Topuria was given a standing ovation on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium — residence of his beloved Actual the place they beat Sevilla 1-0.
The Georgian-born fighter, who moved to Alicante together with his household 15 years in the past, even acquired a pre-game hug from Ramos, who was then enjoying for Sevilla.
However Topuria has additionally made it clear the place he lies with regard to Ronaldo.
Ronaldo had beforehand stated the featherweight champ ‘speaks an excessive amount of’ in a dialog with Francis Ngannou earlier than UFC 308.
He additionally went on to say how he prefers Holloway to Topuria, however added ‘if he beats Max, I’ll respect [him].’
Topuria replied on the time saying he ‘did not count on’ somebody like Ronaldo ‘to have the ability to distinguish between confidence and conceitedness.’
He sat down with Spanish journalist Juanma Castano on Monday to announce his subsequent UFC opponent in a particular program of El Partidazo De Cope, which interprets to Cope’s Large Sport, the place he continued to throw slander at Ronaldo.
Cope is the second most listened to Spanish language radio station in Spain’s generalist radio, and Topuria was interviewed on the Teatro Alcazar in Madrid in entrance of a dwell viewers.
4
4
“The individual I’m going to personally invite is Messi as a result of he lives [in Miami],” Topuria asserted, presumably talking about his subsequent battle.
“So f*** Cristiano so long as Messi exists,” he added, a lot to the amusement of the Madrid crowd, who erupted in laughter.
Castano then responds: “I didn’t see this one coming, Ilia,” earlier than Topuria cheekily says: “Volkanovski and Holloway didn’t see it coming both.”
Topuria went on to announce that he has had his final battle within the UFC’s featherweight division.
He’s unbeaten within the UFC since making his debut in October 2020, and has completed all however two of his opponents earlier than the gap.
The 27-year-old even handed Holloway his first-ever KO defeat in his 12-year MMA profession, after flattening him at UFC 308 in October.
4
“Sure, for positive, I’m transferring to light-weight,” he stated. “Now It’s time to take pleasure in what I do, we’re leaving the burden minimize.”
“I realized about consuming as soon as a day from Sergio Ramos; generally we prepare collectively. He’s been doing it laborious.
“I’m coaching effectively, after Christmas I’ll do some particular coaching. Miami was talked about however I don’t know, I nonetheless have a few conversations pending.
“I’m clear about how I need to do it: I wish to transfer as much as the following class and towards Charles Oliveira.
“As a result of Islam Makhachev, who’s the champion, is combating in January and will be unable to be there in April.”
UFC President Dana White introduced this previous weekend that Islam Makhachev would put his light-weight belt on the road in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311.
The pair have already battled it out within the octagon in 2019 on a Battle Evening card in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the place Makhachev gained through unanimous determination.
White additionally introduced that Merab Dvalishvili will defend his bantamweight title for the primary time towards Umar Nurmagomedov in UFC 311’s co-main occasion.
The stacked California card additionally options Beneil Dariush vs Renato Moicano and Jiri Prochazka vs Jamahal Hill, in what is about an epic first UFC pay-per-view of 2025.