Arrr, Ilia Topuria be knockin' out Alexander Volkanovski to claim the UFC booty, then be chasen' McGregor fer a duel!
2024-02-18
Arrr mateys! Ye won't believe yer eyes! Ilia Topuria be the new UFC Featherweight Champion after knockin' out Alexander Volkanovski in a battle that left the whole treasure huntin' world stunned! Raise a tankard to the new champ!
It was Ilia Topuria’s night on Saturday at UFC 298. Going up against reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, Topuria was looking to claim his first UFC championship and remain undefeated. The Georgian-Spanish MMA star took Volkanovski to the second round of the night and caught him with a hook onto his chin.Volkanovski went down and Topuria put the finishing touches on him. The 28-year-old was left holding the UFC Featherweight Championship for the first time in his career and moved to 15-0 in his professional career. He’s 7-0 since he joined the UFC in 2020."I feel so happy right now," he said after the bout. "They’re going to tell you you can’t do it. They’re going to knock you down and doubt you. But guess what? The only person you need to have your back in this life is yourself. Just trust yourself, work tirelessly, have faith and everything is possible. Look at me now."Topuria called out Conor McGregor in the Octagon during his post-fight speech. "And Conor McGregor, if you still have some balls, I will be waiting for you in Spain," he said. McGregor is working his way back to the UFC after not being in the Octagon since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021. It’s unclear when his next fight will be though rumors have sprouted about a bout against Michael Chandler in the near future.UFC president Dana White hoped to make the promotion’s debut in Spain with Topuria’s next fight. He said he was delighted by Topuria’s confidence in declaring himself a champion even before he won a UFC title.