Ilia Topuria warned Alexander Volkanovski: “I feel like an airplane”

“I have dreamed and prepared for this moment since I started this sport. I feel like a winnerthe most important thing is I don’t regret anything And I won’t regret it, because I did everything I could,” said Topuria at the ‘Media Day’ in Madrid, before heading to the United States for the title fight from Saturday to Sunday, the 17th. February 18, California ‘in.

Before about 50 media gathered in the capital, the fighter admitted that he had already done so. visualized his hand “on top” after the fight. “If I have a goal, I do everything I can, so I always feel victorious. I don’t want to think I can do more. I don’t count the days, they count for me. The belt will arrive immediately, in three weeks,” the Alicante native said confidently.

Topuria and Volkanovski had more than one ‘battle’ before the ‘battle’ in California, with back-and-forth conversations in person and on social networks, but “The basis of the relationship is respectBecause he deserves it.” The Spaniard explained that his opponent was a “super good champion” and that he was excited to “achieve success”. take the title from someone like him“. He recalled the many battles his opponent had fought and assured that this was “his moment.”

“Many people call me arrogantbut they have no idea what it means to be so confident. “It takes hours of work, blood, sweat and tears, and not negotiating with yourself from the moment you wake up.” Topuria highlighted situations where he felt unmotivated and managed to find a way to turn the situation around. “Medals are earned through trainingSomeone goes to the competition to collect them”, declared ‘El Matador’.

Topuria wants to become a legend

Spanish reaches the championship fight undefeatedLast June, he defeated American Josh Emmett by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-42, 49-45) to make it 14 wins. Even though his progress is thanks to his team. “It’s been a long road, we’ve evolved and each time we reveal a better version of ourselves. We do not stop, it is a constant evolution,” the fighter emphasized.

Before his big title fight, Ilia Topuria made it clear that he was “looking for happiness, not success” because He wants to “be a legend”. “I always try to stay very good throughout the whole process. I feel good. “I have an answer to every negative thing that crosses my mind,” he said, expressing his physical strength with another example.

The fighter will travel to California “proudly” for what “representing the flag of Spain” and representing his roots in Georgia means to him. “Comparing myself to Fernando Alonso or Rafa Nadal is already a source of pride“, he said whether he could manage to become world champion.

Unlike the last match against Emmett, the Spaniard has been training and preparing in recent months In his house in Alicante. “I wanted to return to the roots that brought me here. Our home is where we feel most comfortable. He concluded his remarks by adding that he spent most of his time training at a high-performance center in the Valencian Community city.

Guarantees UFC will come to Spain in 2024

The warrior claims to have a clear road map after the war. you need to think about your goals. “I should know very clearly Which port am I going to?. “I’ll see which one will benefit me and my sports career the most,” he defended, recalling that he was now entirely focused on “what will happen on February 17.”

However, it is clear that UFC will come to Spain in 2024and the probability of achieving this goal seems high Santiago Bernabeu. “We have already had talks about this, it will help many Spanish athletes to be able to perform in front of all their people in the UFC,” he said.

Ilia Topuria He wants his opponent to be Connor McGregor: “Let’s think about this and see who the pleasure of dancing with me. We’d be talking about the UFC’s best-selling pay-per-view and its best-selling box office, dreaming big.” When the Irishman went to Paris, 35 and 40 million dollars in one night.

The Spaniard challenged the two-time UFC champion and said that if he rejects his offer it will be because he wants to quit the sport, otherwise “I’m the fight, he’s dreaming of me“. “Beating Connor doesn’t position me as a legend, but it will be one more step. Everyone has their time, everyone has an expiration date in sports. your time has already passed“.

Finally Topuria announced creation of his foundation, has already gone through “most of the necessary processes” for this. “We are about making this happen and helping a lot of people, kids on the streets, to be able to provide education, to have facilities, facilities. They can do something about their future“He finished the Spanish-Georgian warrior.