Ilia Topuria, UFC Featherweight World Champion, confirmed this Wednesday that his next fight, if he defends his title in 2025, will be held in Madrid. He made it clear that he’s not considering any other country for the event.

Topuria will defend his belt for the first time this coming Saturday against American fighter Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi (UAE). During a press conference on Wednesday, he expressed confidence in his victory. If he retains his title against Holloway, Topuria guaranteed that his goal is to defend it in Madrid, not Australia, where Alexander Volkanovski—whom he knocked out to win the title on February 18—is pushing for a rematch.

"My next fight is definitely going to be in Madrid... If he [Volkanovski] wants to fight for the title, it’ll be in Madrid, not in Australia with his crowd. If that’s what he’s thinking, it’s never going to happen. A lot of Spaniards and Georgians will come to support me, and I’m excited about that, to be able to shine in front of my people," he told reporters.

The Spanish-Georgian fighter, who boasts an undefeated record of fifteen wins, said his dream is to become a champion in three weight divisions and "be a role model for future generations." Talking about his opponent on Saturday, Topuria praised Holloway as a "great fighter" whom he has been a fan of, but added, "he’s not the best UFC fighter." He continued, "He’s got a lot of experience and is smart in the octagon, but on Saturday, he’ll feel something he’s never felt before—the pressure with me is going to be different."

"It’s the same Max Holloway we’ve seen since 2020—a good striker, very patient, but that’s it. I haven’t seen any evolution in his game. He knows I’m way better than him," the Alicante-based fighter said. Topuria emphasized that he’s "ready for however many rounds it takes," but predicted the fight won’t go the distance.