Spanish soccer legend Sergio Ramos attended and showed support for fellow Spaniard Ilia Topuria at his recent UFC match against Josh Emmett in Jacksonville, where Topuria’s performance may have pushed him towards a No. 1 contender spot in the featherweight category.
Ilia Topuria, a well-known figure in the world of fighting, had an unexpected audience member cheering him on during his recent fight. The Spanish soccer legend, Sergio Ramos, made an appearance at UFC Jacksonville to support Topuria. He came to witness Topuria’s defining victory over Josh Emmett in a critical featherweight contenders’ bout. Not only did he watch this match, but he also took time to meet Topuria both before and after the main event.
Topuria later revealed how Ramos decided to come to Jacksonville in the first place. According to him, Ramos had texted him a year ago after one of his fights. He began following Topuria on social media, and for this particular fight, he told Topuria that he would come to support him. Stunned at this, Topuria asked for confirmation, and Ramos assured him that he would be there as he was on vacation with no football or soccer engagements scheduled.
Ramos stayed true to his word, and witnessed Topuria’s impressive performance. This fight may potentially elevate Topuria to the No. 1 contender spot. Being a Georgia native, currently residing in Spain, Topuria eagerly awaits his future after Alexander Volkanovski’s victorious bout with interim champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290. Ramos’ social media shoutouts for Topuria, a player who boasts a World Cup and couple of Euro Cup wins, wouldn’t hamper his chance. While Topuria still has a long way to go before reaching that level of fame, he is calmly observing his own progress.
Topuria is appreciative of his budding fame, mentioning that it grows bit by bit. His philosophy is, “slow is the fastest way to get where you want to be”. He enjoyed the process and always believed it was only a matter of time before it became reality. Furthermore, Topuria voiced his interest in other fights. Post his victory over Emmett, he mentioned that he would only consider challenging for a title or battling against the former featherweight champion, Max Holloway, in Spain. This confident fighter also hinted at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home pitch of Real Madrid, to be a suitable venue for UFC’s debut in their country. Noting the shift in awareness and interest in MMA in Spain, he is confident that an event in Spain will sell out in a single day.