UFC champion Ilia Topuria receives hero’s welcome at Real Madrid vs Sevilla match

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria received an incredible welcome at the weekend prior to Real Madrid’s clash with Sevilla.

Earlier this month, Ilia Topuira knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to become the new king of the featherweights. It completed his remarkable rise to the top of the 145-pound division, with Topuria himself predicting this would happen for quite some time.

RELATED: Ilia Topuria to be honored for UFC title win at upcoming Real Madrid football match in Spain

Now, we have to wait and see what kind of champion he’ll be – but based on recent evidence, we’d say mixed martial arts may have its next great European superstar.

It had been announced that Ilia Topuria would be presented to over 75,000 fans before Real Madrid took on Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. That’s precisely what happened, with Topuria receiving an amazing ovation from both the players and supporters alike.

🚨ILIA TOPURIA AT THE BERNABEU https://t.co/lYYGZ9kZHm

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 25, 2024

Topuria’s big moment

It was already known that Ilia is a huge name in Spain. Alas, for anyone out there who had any doubts, this should serve as undeniable proof.

The 27-year-old looked sharp, confident and ready to take on the world. Of course, there’s a long road ahead as he attempts to cement his place at the top of the division, but there are so many reasons to be excited about his ascent to superstardom.

In terms of what’s next, there are plenty of options on the table. The UFC is reportedly considering an event in Spain later this year, and Topuria would be the obvious choice to headline that card. Who his challenger would be, though, remains to be seen.

Are you excited to see Ilia Topuria maximise his potential inside and outside the cage? Who do you think he should battle next in the Octagon? Let us know, BJPENN Nation!