This is already a reality. The Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi is the chosen setting. The return of Ilia TopuriaWho will return to the octagon next? October 26 He will make the first defense of his UFC featherweight belt in an event that signals the way, with an impressive main card headlined by the Hispanic-Georgian set to fight decisively against the Hawaiian. Max Holloway.

There were rumors of a “El Matador” fight in September, specifically on Mexican Independence Day, but in the end the company led by Dana White came to the conclusion that an event on such a date with a Spaniard in the lead role would not be well received. Later, everything pointed to the fight taking place in Salt Lake, specifically at UFC 307, but the situation went the other way and it will ring exactly for Ilia Topuria in Abu Dhabi.

It is not a fact that Topuria will be the chosen fighter for the event to be held in the United Arab Emirates.. The UFC has an event in this location every year and it must be a huge event full of big names and huge amounts of money. That’s why the fact that the main figure on the poster is Ilia Topuria is a historical event for Spanish mixed martial arts.

Encounters on networks

He is opposed by Max Holloway, with whom he has been involved in various conflicts on social networks. Hawaiian Wrestler He’s currently having the best moment of his career after scoring a stunning knockout at the horn against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300He is Ilia Topuria’s biggest threat in his division and will come into this fight ready to regain the belt he last saw in December 2019, the belt he lost in the first of three defeats against Alexander Volkanovski, who Ilia most recently took the featherweight throne from in February.

The fight promises to be a real clash of giants and a duel of styles, with the current champion set to start as the favorite in the betting houses.. Max Holloway is a natural boxer, the absolute record holder for significant blows in the company and returns to the cage after finishing his last two fights by knockout. On the other hand, the Alicante champion with a strong mentality and tremendous self-confidence silenced everyone with his latest performance against the Australian Volkanovski, where he won the belt.

It is worth noting that Topuria has not revealed his real expertise, specifically wrestling, a discipline in which he is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, except for his fight against Bryce Mitchell in 2022. It is not yet known what strategy he will choose in the fight, as the Spaniard likes to beat his opponents in their comfort zone inside the cage.

Along with these, the card will be completed with high-level fights. The co-main event will feature Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev, who are delicate fighters but can deliver a great evening. Fights such as the second part of Ciryl Gane-Aleksandr Volkov or the duel between Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic ​​​​also stand out.

There is no definitive information about what will happen on October 26 in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, but the event promises to be one of the most remarkable of the year. “El Matador” will try to turn Max Holloway into the “sixteenth rose” and place his first defensive badge on his belt. October promises a lot.