A UFC Madrid at the Bernabeu? The shock announcement from Ilia Topuria that evokes the first quarter of 2025

Recently naturalized Spanish UFC star Ilia Topuria was visiting Madrid for the so-called Masters 1000. He used the opportunity to raise the prospect of a first Spanish UFC in 2025, at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Spectacular”. Asked on the sidelines of the Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Madrid, Spanish-Georgian fighter Ilia Topuria did not hide his emotions when talking about his visit to the Santiago Bernabeu last February to kick off the match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC. The newly minted UFC -66kg champion was welcomed as a hero and presented his belt to the crowd’s applause.

And this Tuesday, the fighter revealed the plans of the American MMA organization to establish itself on Spanish territory.

“In the first quarter of next year we will organize a UFC in Spain at the Santiago Bernabeu,” he announced.

Dana White “likes the idea”

A plan that obviously suits him, a big fan of Real Madrid and very connected to Spain, of which he has just become a citizen. Ilia Topuria thus said that he took advantage of this kick-off against Sevilla FC to prepare for this UFC Madrid.

“As I entered the pitch, I paused to visualize my entrance and trip to the octagon of such a legendary stadium,” he explained.

If this announcement remains to be confirmed, it seems entirely plausible since the possibility of a fight night at the Real Madrid stadium was mentioned by Dana White following Topuria’s win against former -66kg champion, Australian Alexander Volkanovski. At a press conference, the UFC’s big boss began by asking the number of seats in the Bernabeu, before dropping an enigmatic comment: “I like the idea.”