Dana White calls new UFC champ Ilia Topuria ‘a force’ at featherweight – and now he can’t wait to go to Spain

ANAEHIM, Calif. – Taking a UFC occasion to Spain already was on Dana White’s thoughts. Now it’s squarely on his radar.

That’s as a result of the UFC CEO has a brand new Georgian-Spanish champion on his roster after Ilia Topuria defeated Alexander Volkanovski by second-round knockout to assert the featherweight title Saturday within the UFC 298 fundamental occasion at Honda Middle.

“We’re going to Spain,” White instructed reporters, together with MMA Junkie, throughout the UFC 298 post-fight information convention. “… If there’s a venue obtainable for us, we’ll be there.”

That needs to be music to Topuria’s ears. Earlier in UFC 298 struggle week, Topuria spoke of wanting to fight Conor McGregor in Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. And the brand new champion repeated that want throughout his octagon interview with Joe Rogan.

The dream might’ve been simply dashed if the daring, brash and undefeated Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) fell brief at UFC 298, however he was spectacular in opposition to Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), which didn’t go unnoticed by White.

“Numerous questions going into this factor: by no means been in a fundamental occasion like this, by no means felt the warmth, the stress,” White mentioned. “He couldn’t have appeared any higher in opposition to a Volk who appeared actually good, too. That struggle was heating up. They have been exchanging. Topuria appeared strong, man – very strong.

“I believe he appeared nice. Volk is likely one of the best of all time, and he’s undoubtedly the best in that weight class ever. Topuria appeared rattling good in his final struggle (vs. Josh Emmett), and he appeared rattling good tonight. If he retains his head collectively and continues to do what he’s doing, he’s going to be a pressure in that division.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 298.