ABU DHABI – If the idea of the UFC holding an event in Spain was a tease before, it sounds like a slam dunk now.
After Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), the UFC’s first champion from Spain, defended his featherweight title with a stunning third-round knockout of ex-champ Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) this past Saturday at UFC 308, it may have sealed the deal on a future UFC trip to Spain for the first time.
“I want to go to Spain as bad as Spain wants us to come, so we’re working on it. We’ll get it done there,” UFC CEO Dana White said at Etihad Arena after UFC 308. “There’s never been a time where we said we’re going to do something and we don’t do it. We figure it out, and we’ll get it done.
“It’s important for me to go to Spain in ’25, so we’ll figure it out.”
Topuria is the reason that UFC visit to Spain has taken on increased importance. He became the first fighter to knock out Holloway, the reigning “BMF” titleholder – and predicted he’d be the first to do it, too.
Among those on hand to support the rising star was all-time Spanish soccer legend Sergio Ramos, lending credence to Topuria’s global star potential.
Topuria has yet to lose in MMA. In the buildup to UFC 308, he was portrayed as someone who might be just as comfortable at the Met Gala as he would be in an MMA gym, and White said when the UFC has superstars, the needle moves differently – especially when it comes to breaking into new markets.
“This business is star driven, so when we have a South African (champion like Dricus Du Plessis), we want to get to Africa,” White said. “When we have somebody from Spain, we want to get into Spain. Georgia, yes – the answer is yes. We haven’t looked into that yet or what it would take to pull off an event near there. We’re still trying to figure out Spain with the arena situation. But when you look at the performance that Topuria had tonight, we need to get to Spain and figure it out.”
White said arena availability has been an issue in the country – but that if there was no other option, he’d be forced to get past his dislike of outdoor stadium shows.
“If we have to, we will. I’d prefer not to. All the arenas were booked up. We’re trying to figure it out. But if I have to go to a stadium (for Topuria in Spain), we will,” White said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 1:34
