Topuria, ready to fight in August or September: “Whenever”
The Spanish-Georgian fighter said in an interview with Ariel Helwani that he hopes to defend his title at the end of summer, eyeing UFC 306 in Las Vegas
Everyone is waiting for Ilia Topuria’s return to the octagon. After Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and called out the Spanish-Georgian as his next opponent, the hype is huge. El Matador revealed in an interview that he is “ready to fight in August, September, or October,” and that he’s willing to return at UFC 306 in Las Vegas.
“Whenever, I’m always in shape, always ready”, Topuria said about his return to the cage in an interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. El Matador knocked out Alexander Volkanovski, considered the best UFC featherweight fighter ever and former pound-for-pound No. 1 mixed martial artist. Topuria defeated him in the second round to take his belt and reach greatness in the company very fast. With everyone watching his steps, he has given some hints about his next plans.
Conor McGregor and Sean O’Malley were two of the candidates to fight Topuria, but the one who seems to be the chosen one is Max Holloway. The Hawaiian was already on Topuria’s list, but his brutal knockout at UFC 300 put him in the first spot of candidates to take on El Matador. Holloway was the featherweight champion until Volkanovski beat him three times and took his belt. Now he is the BMF champion, another accomplishment in his career.
Topuria eyeing return at UFC 306
Topuria, who was in the front row at T-Mobile Arena, said after the fight that Max was next. Both confirmed it through their social networks. The date is still unknown, but the featherweight champion dropped the bomb. “I think they want me to fight in the Sphere in September,” he revealed.
UFC 306 would be held at the Sphere, a spherical arena in Las Vegas. With the latest announcements from Dana White about the location of the rest of this year’s PPV events, the possibility of taking the UFC to Spain is practically ruled out until 2025. The company’s senior executive vice president and COO, Lawrence Epstein, already spoke about it to the Spanish media that traveled to Anaheim to see Topuria become champion. The first defense of El Matador will most likely happen on US soil.