Update on potential UFC Spain card featuring champion Ilia Topuria

UFC Director David Shaw was on site in Paris, France on Saturday, deputizing for UFC CEO Dana White to answer questions from the gathered media following UFC Fight Night.

While Shaw didn’t provide much information, he reiterated the promotion’s intention to travel to Spain for the first time in the future for a pay-per-view broadcast. He said it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

Currently, the biggest UFC star in Spain is the newly minted featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Topuria is fresh off a KO/TKO win over Alexander Volkanovski in February and remains undefeated. He will once again headline the fight, this time against former featherweight champion and current “BMF” champion Max Holloway on October 26 at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

Shaw mentioned Topuria’s name and said that if the organization were to host an event there, it would likely feature talent from the region.

“Yes, there are (plans to move around Europe),” Shaw said. “Dana (White) has been quite vocal about Spain. (UFC) is trying to find the right moment for this. (It’s) nice to see some Spanish athletes doing well (at UFC Paris). Not only tonight, but also I think there will be a big event in Abu Dhabi with Topuria next month. We always look at Poland. I love coming to France every year. We would love to be there every year back to other countries, but, you know, there are a lot of things that need to be decided (when).”

The remaining UFC event schedule will be finalized by the end of the year. Locations include Las Vegas, Tampa, Utah, Canada, China and New York. Minus Thanksgiving weekend, the promotion covers the card through December 14 before the calendar changes to 2025.

The UFC’s international presence remains paramount and has been since the early 2000s. Given Shaw’s comments, that won’t change anytime soon.

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