Topuria shines in spectacular end to year
Spain's biggest MMA promoter hangs the 'Sold Out' sign at the Madrid Arena for a spectacular evening.
A night of absolute madness at the Madrid Arena, thanks to Ilia Topuria and WOW, which closed the season with a sold-out event that rivalled anything the UFC has to offer.
Footballers Aymeric Laporte, Álex Baena, and Álvaro Carreras were among those in attendance, alongside celebrities such as Óscar Casas and Arturo Valls, and combat sports stars including Kiko Martínez and Merche García. No one was missing from WOW 25.
Ilia and Aleksandre Topuria entered the arena to the cheers of the entire crowd, with Omar Montes and Pablo Motos by their side, as usual. “I’m trying to sort out some personal issues, and once everything is settled, I’ll talk about my professional career,” the Spanish-Georgian fighter said at the post-fight press conference.
Many familiar faces were in the audience to witness an event showcasing what was once a niche sport but is now gaining serious traction in Spain. MMA is making its mark, and its momentum is undeniable.
“We are trying our best. Cristiano’s involvement has been key. His passion for this sport is incredible. We have maintained constant communication with him. 2026 holds great things for WOW; the company’s growth has been evident. We hope to explore more territories both nationally and internationally,” Ilia continued.
The sporting level of the event, broadcast on UFC Fight Pass, Movistar, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s YouTube channel (with nearly 80 million subscribers), was exceptional. Against all odds, Brian Hooi dethroned the seemingly invincible Umakhan Ibragimov from Dagestan to claim the lightweight title. It was a war that had the audience on the edge of their seats, with brutal exchanges in which either fighter could have fallen at any moment.
“I thought Ibragi was the favourite, that he was going to win, and look how the fight turned out. That uncertainty before a fight, not being able to make a sure bet, is what makes WOW special. I’ve been in the world of MMA since I was 15 and I’ve never seen anything like this live. They are two super warriors. They are both going to get the bonus; they deserve it,” declared El Matador.
As expected, both fighters earned the night’s bonus. The other went to Theo Bashford, who handed Isai Villamur his first professional loss in spectacular fashion. Leading the fight with excellent boxing, Bashford turned the tide with a head kick that knocked Villamur out.
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Nikolay Grozdev also defended his title for the first time, coming from behind to defeat Brett Johns. After a strong first round on the ground by the American, Grozdev knocked him out in the second. Johns announced his retirement afterward. Elsewhere on the card, Isabel Calvo lost by submission to Weronica Cislo, and Antonio Fofirca won by unanimous decision.
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