UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria hopes to invite Lionel Messi to his next fight, if it takes place in Miami, and fight back against Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, who is a known fan of mixed martial arts, criticized the Georgian ahead of UFC 308 in October and predicted he would lose to Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi.
The Al Nassr striker was filmed telling former MMA champion-turned-boxer Francis Ngannou and his trainer Eric Nicksick that Topuria, nicknamed El Matador, “talks too much” and “hasn’t fought the top guys”.
Topuria promptly beat American Holloway in the third round and is now looking to stage his next fight in South Florida.
If he does, only one of the two best footballers of their generation will be invited and it is not the Portugal captain.
Real Madrid fan Topuria told Cade Cope’s El Partidazo show: “The one I will personally invite there (to Miami) is (Lionel) Messi because he lives there, so Cristiano as long as Messi exists.”
😬🍿 Ilias Topouria is NEGLIGIBLE
Ilia: “Why Cristiano while Messi exists”
Presenter: “I didn’t see that coming, Elias”
Elias: “Even Volkanovsky and Holloway didn’t see it coming”
🎥@partidazocope 🔹 pic.twitter.com/dixly8nteU
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 10, 2024
Asked about Ronaldo’s comments, he added: “I didn’t understand it, to be honest. I saw the clip that came out talking about me talking a lot. If Cristiano says it, something doesn’t sit well with me. Cristiano is always talking.”
