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Newly-crowned featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria has continued jabbing at undisputed lightweight titleholder, Islam Makhachev on social media overnight – uploading footage of the Russian’s sole professional defeat back in 2015, where he was stopped in a brutal KO loss to Brazilian veteran, Adriano Martins.

Topuria, the newly-minted undisputed featherweight titleholder, headlined UFC 298 earlier this month, winning the divisional title with a blistering second round win over common-opponent, Alexander Volkanovski.

Improving to 15-0 as a professional, Spanish finisher, Topuria stopped the former pound-for-pound number one with a stunning knockout win at the Octagon fence, and in the time since, has weighed up an immediate lightweight move in pursuit of a second crown, and a fight with current pound-for-pound topper, Makhachev. 

“The final objective is still there,” Ilia Topuria told Spanish media following his title win over the course of last weekend at UFC 298. “He’s (Islam Makhachev) in trouble.”

And appearing in Madrid last night, Topuria attended the Santiago Bernabeu – home to Real Madrid for their La Liga match with Sevilla, bringing the UFC title onto the pitch and taking part in a ceremonial kick-off.

Ilia Topuria continues to pursue Islam Makhachev

With Makhachev on his mind apparently, Topuria mocked the Russian’s 2015 loss to the aforenoted, Martins on his official Instagram Stories – in which the now-champion was dropped and stopped with a knockout loss inside two minutes of their clash. 

Himself sidelined since last October, Makhachev most recently turned in a spectacular rematch with over the above-mentioned, Volkanovski at UFC 294 on short-notice, stopping the New South Wales native with a high-kick and follow up strikes knockout.

And expected to make his return to the Octagon later this annum, Makhachev’s head coach, Javier Mendez has suggested the American Kickboxing Academy staple could take on former interim champion and incoming UFC 300 feature, Justin Gaethje in a title showcase next.

Do you think Ilia Topuria ever takes on Islam Makhachev?

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Spoiler Role
| BJPenn.com

UFC Mexico City went down last night (Sat., Feb, 24, 2024) inside Arena CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico. In the main event of the evening, Brandon Royval picked up a huge win by defeating former Flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno, in their 125-pound rematch (full recap here). In the co-main event, Brian Ortega got back in the win column by submitting Yair Rodriguez, getting revenge on “El Pantera” from a loss dating back to 2022 (see it again here).

Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Brandon Royval

Who He Should Face Next: Amir Albazi

Albazi was supposed to face Moreno at UFC Mexico City, but since Royval stepped in to fill the void and took care of business it would make sense to have Royval and Albazi go at it. The winner of that fight would then be the front-runner to face current division champion, Alexandre Pantoja, next. While it was a good win for Royval, it’s not good enough to get another title shot against Pantoja straight away after losing to him just two months ago.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Brian Ortega

Who He Should Face Next: Movsar Evloev (Or Alexander Volkanovski)

It is still way too early to decipher the plans UFC matchmakers have for Ilia Topuria’s first title defense. Volkanovski wants a rematch he deserves, and if that fight is made then Ortega should face Movsar Evloev for the right to compete in the next championship fight. On that note, If the promotion decides to give Evloev the next title shot, then a rematch between Ortega and Volkanovski makes sense.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Daniel Zellhuber

Who He Should Face Next: Fares Ziam

After stumbling out of the UFC gates with a loss in his debut, Zellhuber has turned it around to rack up three straight wins, including his most recent victory over Francisco Prado last night. Ziam, meanwhile, was also victorious South of the Border with a split-decision win over Claudio Puelles. He is also on a three-fight win streak, so it’s not a bad idea to get this fight going.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Yazmin Jauregui

Who She Should Face Next: Gillian Robertson

Jauregui got back on track with a nice win over Sam Hughes, bringing her record to 3-1 under the UFC banner. I would love to see the Mexican-born fighter take on someone with the type of experience that Robertson has. Ranked No. 15 at the moment, Robertson is fresh off a win over Polyana Viana at UFC 297, and is 3-1 in her last four fights. If Jauregui can take Robertson out, she could be in line to take her ranking spot.

Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Manuel Torres

Who He Should Face Next: Steve Garcia

Torres picked up a huge win and $ 50,000 bonus after submitting Chris Duncan in the very first round (see it here). He improves his win streak to six straight, three inside the Octagon. Of his 15 wins, 14 of them have been stoppages so he knows how to get in, entertain and take care of business. Up next for “El Loco,” a matchup against Garcia sounds like a fun fight to make. Garcia is coming off a knockout win over Melquizael Costa, his third straight win.

For complete UFC Mexico City results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Brandon Royval is excited about heading into enemy territory.

He could get his wish on May 4 if the matchmakers decide to give him another crack at Alexandre Pantoja, who successfully defended the flyweight title against Royval this past December at UFC 296. The Brazilian star is poised to headline UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, but he needs a challenger, and Royval’s win over Brandon Moreno in the UFC Mexico City main event may have made Royval the front-runner for that spot.

Royval earned a narrow split decision over Mexico’s Moreno to avenge a November 2020 loss and if he has to head Pantoja’s home country for another chance to become UFC champion, he welcomes the challenge.

“I’m going to continue spoiling parties,” Royval said at the UFC Mexico City post-fight press conference. “UFC 301, I’m going to fight Pantoja and I’m going to take his belt in his hometown, in Rio de Janeiro, and we’ll keep spoiling parties after I win that belt, I’ll defend my belt in Denver, Colorado.”

Standing in the way of Royval’s title hopes are the fact that Pantoja defeated him just two months ago and he already holds two victories over Royval. A third fight could be a tough sell, but Royval just knocked off a two-time UFC champion who previously had bragging rights over him, and he’s confident that he’s proven he can make the proper adjustments to finally knock off Pantoja.

“You’ve seen it,” Royval said. “I made adjustments in six weeks. Five weeks, whatever it was, five weeks because I hurt my hand and I couldn’t get back into training. I had a five-week training camp. In five weeks, I made a bunch of adjustments.

“I didn’t get held down, Brandon Moreno tried to slow me down, slow down the pace, hold me down, keep me down. They ain’t going to hold me down no more.”

Royval is best known for his exciting finishes, but on Saturday he impressed in a 25-minute fight with Moreno, using relentless volume and pace to earn the decision on two of the judges’ cards. It was a far cry from the listless performance he had against Pantoja at UFC 296.

It is not yet known if Royval will get the call to headline in Rio. Should it happen, he only sees one possible outcome this time around.

“I’m going to be the champ,” Royval said. “That’s the future. The future is the ‘Raw Dawg’ Royval is going to be the champ and then I’ll fight anybody. I’ll fight No. 10, I don’t really care. But I’m going to be the new champion. I messed up, I dropped the ball. You guys have seen in five weeks me correct those mistakes and I’m only going to get better by UFC 301.”

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Newly-minted undisputed featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria has claimed a showdown with former undisputed lightweight kingpin, the unbeaten, Khabib Nurmagomedov is his “dream” showdown, and insists if he ever got the opportunity to fight the Dagestan favorite – he would handily beat him.

Topuria, the newly-crowned undisputed featherweight titleholder, headlined UFC 298 earlier this month in Anaheim, California, landing a stunning second round KO win over former pound-for-pound number one, Alexander Volkanovski in a fierce grudge match.

And laying out plans to fight in his residency in Spain next, Topuria was issued a challenge by former title chaser, Brian Ortega who emerged from UFC Mexico City with an arm-triangle submission win over former interim champion, Yair Rodríguez in the pair’s rematch. 

Ilia Topuria talks dream Khabib Nurmagomedov title fight

Welcoming the possibility of a future lightweight title charge against the incumbent, Islam Makhachev – Topuria stunningly revealed that his dream bout would see him take on Makhachev’s training partner, ex-champion, Nurmagomedov – whom he claims he would defeat to boot.

“I would be happy to enter the Octagon with Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Ilia Topuria said during a recent interview. “He had an undefeated record at 29-0 and he had an attractive record for me, then also history. He is worthy and [and] honorable champion for me. 100% [I would defeat him].”

Calling time on his professional career back in late 2020, Nurmagomedov bowed out of the sport with a stunning second round triangle choke submission win over then-interim champion, Justin Gaethje – to unify the titles and improve his unbeaten professional record to 29-0.

Turning his hand to coaching at American Kickboxing Academy briefly in the time since, Nurmagomedov was also recently inducted into the promotion’s ‘Fight Wing’ of the Hall of Fame. 

Who would have won in a title fight: Ilia Topuria or Khabib Nurmagomedov?

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With UFC 306 being announced to take place at the Las Vegas Sphere for the first time in the promotion’s history, Nate Diaz has signaled his intent on appearing on the card.

After the success of Noche UFC last year, Dana White promised to host an annual event each year to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. The inaugural card saw Alexa Grasso controversially defend her flyweight throne in the anticipated rematch against Valentina Shevchenko.

In a post on social media, Nate Diaz announced his interest in returning to the octagon and finding his way onto the UFC 306 card in September.

“I’ll be here, fuck [UFC] 300.”

I’ll be here fuck 300 pic.twitter.com/CEcskGli7F

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) February 25, 2024

The event will likely feature some of Mexico’s greatest fighters, with a potential title defense for Alexa Grasso or a title opportunity for Brian Ortega being rumored for the date.

If Nate Diaz does make a huge return to the octagon, it will be the first time he’s fought under the UFC banner since departing in 2022.

Related: Nate Diaz calls for Conor McGregor trilogy at UFC 300

Since leaving the UFC behind for greener pastures, Diaz has been linked with several huge matchups in various sports. Despite not competing in a jiu-jitsu competition or a bare-knuckle boxing match, the Stockton native did find himself locking horns with Jake Paul in the squared circle.

After a grueling 30-minute brawl, Diaz and Jake went the entire 10 rounds. ‘The Problem Child’ came away with the unanimous decision victory after knocking his opponent down and dominating the majority of the bout.

Nate Diaz has been eyeing a UFC comeback for some time now and he already has his sights set on a possible opponent. While a matchup with Michael Chandler has been heavily rumored for Conor McGregor, Diaz has called for the trilogy against the Irishman to take place.

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