Ilia Topuria fulfills her destiny, knocks out Volkanovski and conquers the UFC

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He had never doubted… and he didn’t do it on the octagon. Ilia Topuria (15-0-0) fulfilled her destiny and took the featherweight belt from Alexander Volkanovski (26-4-0). ‘The Great’ lost the crown and ‘El Matador’ rose to the top. He knocked out Volkanovski in the second round with a perfect succession of punches and lifted the belt. They had called him arrogant, presumptuous… but he simply showed confidence in his abilities.

Topuria, with the belt.

‘Topuriamania’ is real. Nothing imposed. Spain has woken up early to follow its new superstar. And now she sees him reign. He made a promise, and he has not failed those who believed. Ilia Topuria is already, in fact, the ‘Magnificent Seventh’ of the UFC, equating his name to that of legends like Khabib or Adesaya. From Climent de Alicante to glory. Undefeated champion. 15-0-0… as he had predicted.

This is how Topuria was proclaimed champion: he beats ‘Volk’ in the second round

The Hispanic-Georgian redeemed himself in the place where, in January 2022, the scale prevented him from getting up to fight against Charles Jourdain. But history had reserved a space for him in California. And of much greater grandeur. At the Anaheim Center, in California, it is a historic venue. The home of the Ducks, the pavilion where the first women’s fight in the UFC took place (157, Ronda Rousey over Liz Carmouche) or the octagon in which Brock Lesnar lost the heavyweight belt to Caín Velásquez.

Topuria UFC champion: the hours that changed the history of Spanish sport

A few kilometers from here, by the way, at the Anaheim Convention Center, Lydia Valentín was proclaimed Absolute World Weightlifting Champion in 2020. Now it is the arena in which Ilia Topuria rose above all.

A historic night

Days ago the ‘sold out’ had been posted. Tickets from $300 to more than $6,000. Alberto Contador, Riqui Puig, Arón Piper and Omar Montes were some of the familiar faces at the Honda Center but Mark Zuckerberg and many VIPs from the American world were also present.

Ax against ‘Volk’.

Meanwhile, more than 400 Spaniards were spread around the venue among staff, family, friends and followers of ‘El Matador’. And although the atmosphere remained pro-Volkanovski, as in the days before the combat, the Spanish made themselves noticed. Also the Georgians who accompanied Merab Dvalishvili… and Ilia.

“It’s going to be abysmal, I assure you. Tomorrow we will write history. It’s going to be something historic for Spain, for Georgia… and for me personally. He who believes, creates realities,” Topuria had warned hours before the fight at MARCA’s microphones. And ‘El Matador’ does not fail to live up to his promises.

Topuria’s historic entrance to the octagon: to the rhythm of mariachis and with everyone against

Topuria started from the blue corner but was wearing red pants. He had threatened to finish in the first round but he came out with great maturity, controlling the center and the fight.. ‘Volk’ unleashed several kicks but ‘El Matador’ defended himself. It was, in fact, the Hispanic-Georgian who was right with several ‘low kicks’. He even dedicated a word to the Australian in the middle of the assault.

Topuria, with ‘Volk’ on the ground.

“Ilia, Ilia, Ilia,” the stands began to chant. They saw it. She was going to do it. And he did it after starting the second round better. A succession of blows that crowned a new champion in the second round. History.

This was UFC 298

The stellar card opened with Anthony Hernandez (12-2) beating the Russian Kopylov (12-3) by submission. The stands celebrated it in style. In another of the night’s fights, Merab Dvalishvili (17-4) fulfilled and elevated Georgia against Henry Cejudo (16-4). A fighter full of charisma who continues to grow. the Irish Ian Machado He climbed to 14-0 in a somewhat celebrated fight against Geoff Neal (15-6). And just before the big date of the night, the co-star left a very good taste in the mouth: Robert Whittaker (25-7-0) defeated Paulo Costa (14-3-0) by decision of the judges.

Before, in the preliminaries, the story of Tafa (5-2) did not end with a happy ending… but Mingyang Zhang (17-6) left a technical KO to remember against Brendson Ribeiro (15-6).