IRVINE, Calif. – If you don’t know by now, Ilia Topuria dreams big. Like, really big.
The undefeated UFC featherweight contender is already banking on not only dethroning champion Alexander Volkanovski, but also knocking him out in the first round of their main event bout at Saturday’s UFC 298 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. But Topuria’s dreams and ambitions don’t just stop there.
The Georgian-Spanish fighter aims to fight one of the sport’s biggest stars in Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium, which seats 85,000 people.
“If it was my decision, I’d fight Conor McGregor,” Topuria said when asked at the UFC 298 media day who he’d like to face at the Bernabeu. “That would be the fight I’d aim for, and that’s what I aim for.”
Before Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) can even dream of fighting McGregor, he first needs to get past Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), who’s considered one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history.
Topuria acknowledges the type of challenge he has in front of him.
“Oh yeah, he’s going to stay in the featherweight book for a while, that’s for sure,” Topuria said. “He will be remembered as one of the greatest in the featherweight division. He was a great champion.”
Yet, despite the respect, Topuria expects a swift victory.
“I see myself knocking him out in the first round.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.
