WATCH: “This is actually INSANE” – 80,000 Spanish fans welcome UFC champion Ilia Topuria shocking fight fans around world
Newly minted featherweight champion Ilia Topuria revels in chants of his name from 80,000 fans in his adopted home country of Spain.
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Ilia Topuria listens to his name chanted by 80,000 admirers in his home nation of Spain (via X)
The UFC belt represents more than just being the champion. It represents the pride of a nation. It shows the passion of the champion’s countrymen. The new featherweight king, Ilia Topuria, showcased these qualities when he came to Spain. He received a hero’s welcome in front of over 80,000 adoring fans last weekend. Topuria took the honorary kickoff at a major football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The UFC scheduled him to attend the Real Madrid vs. Sevilla game and showcase his belt. The video is around 50 seconds in length. Topuria walked onto the pitch at the hallowed 80,000-seat Bernabeu Stadium to thunderous applause. Fans chanted his name as he held up the UFC belt and walked toward the center of the ground. The newly minted champion handed his belt to one of the players and then did the honorary kickoff.
The 15-0 Topuria won the featherweight belt by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. Topuria’s triumph was a massive source of national pride. The exceptional reception demonstrated Topuria’s increasing popularity in Spain. MMA is surging in mainstream appeal nationwide thanks to the new champ.
Dana White took notice of the growing popularity of MMA in Spain with Topuria’s champion status. He confirmed the promotion would hold an event in Spain soon. The grand return highlighted Topuria’s ambitions for MMA in Spain. He wanted to spearhead a combat sports boom in his adopted homeland of Spain.
Fight fans reacted to Ilia Topuria’s massive reception in Spain
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria received an immense welcome from 80,000 football fans at Spain’s iconic Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Video of the event went viral, with supporters expressing pride and celebrating the MMA star.
Fight fans took to social media to convey their reactions to this. Some fight fans believed that Topuria would spearhead MMA in Spain. Others felt like his rise was like that of Conor McGregor. Many were in disbelief about the number of fight fans chanting his name. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans:
The viral video highlighted MMA’s growth in Spain, thanks to Topuria. Seeing 80,000 football supporters cheer for an MMA fighter would have been unthinkable just years ago. The rousing reception showed that Topuria had become a cultural icon since winning the UFC belt.
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Zaid Quraishi
(718 Articles Published)