It was not an easy followingnoon for Topuria. The Hispanic-Georgian found a public clearly once morest him in Anaheim. All boos for him and cheers for Volkanovski… except for the small group of Spaniards present. And they were noticed. Topuria, however, showed up with the bravery that characterizes him and sent a message: following this fight everyone will be on his side. And he added even more to his warning to ‘Volk’: “I’m going to wipe the floor with you. I’m going to beat you up and the fight will end in the first round.”
“You’re a Conor McGregor wannabe. I’m going to show you why I’ve dominated the division,” Volkanovski responded.
I’m going to wipe the floor with you. I’m going to beat you up and the fight will end in the first round
Topuria a Volkanovski
Hostile reception for Topuria: whistles and boos to make it clear that he is fighting as a visitorUFC
The atmosphere in Anaheim was already looking forward to the UFC. Hundreds of fans lined up to watch the press conference at the Honda Center. “I’ve been here since 9 in the morning to be in the front row”, one of those present told MARCA. The first in line. With him, many more. Volk, Ilia or MMA fans. “We will also be there tomorrow, and on Saturday of course.” An event that goes far beyond the Saturday evening.
Relive the full press conference
The press conference was presented the day before the decisive moment of the passage with the protagonists immersed in a fight once morest the scale. And with the context that the relationship between ‘The Great’ and ‘El Matador’ is based on respect and ‘colleagues’. But that’s where the good relationship ended. There was beef. And a lot.
This was the face to face between Volkanovski and Topuria: “You are old, prepare for retirement” IRATI PRAT
And the Ilia regiment was hostile in front of some 1,000 fans present at the Los Angeles venue. The Hispanic-Georgian, in a suit, was booed by part of the audience present. ‘Volk’, already well established in the US market, was ahead. Quite. And he won the staging by continuing with his parody of the ‘old men’. Topuria had accused him of being old, he responded with an advertisement on Australian TV disguised as an old man… and that was how he showed up at the Honda Center. Pure audiovisual spectacle.
After this Saturday I am going to change the MMA game completely
Ilia Topuria
“I always have the public once morest me,” Ilia began. “But I assure you that following this fight it will not be like that,” he added. The event left a moment to remember with Ilia getting up to snatch the belt from Volkanovski.
“You came dressed as an old man, you already know what is going to happen, you are preparing for retirement,” Ilia told Volkanovski. “You’ll learn a good lesson, that’s what will happen,” ‘The Great’ replied as he stood up.
“After this Saturday I am going to change the MMA game completely,” warned a brave Topuria in the face of the group’s attacks. “I represent the evolution of this sport. I represent the new generation of mixed martial arts,” he added.
