Coach Jorge Climent: Ilia Topuria can sellout UFC event at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu

Ilia Topuria’s coach believes they can sell out a UFC event at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu.

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]’s rise to stardom has been one of the biggest stories of 2024. The UFC featherweight champion has surprised many with his explosion in popularity, including his own coach, [autotag]Jorge Climent[/autotag].

Climent has been ultra confident in Topuria’s capabilities and even predicted that his pupil would knock out Alexander Volkanovski to win the UFC featherweight title—something many didn’t see possible. However, although Climent thinks the world of Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), he didn’t see coming his rise in popularity in Spain, at least not at the levels it’s played out.

“Having confidence in what we are capable of, doesn’t mean I had the vision of what we’re seeing today,” Climent told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I never thought we were going to have the reach that we have now or be recognized in the manner in which we’re being recognized.

“In Spain, this was always a niche sport and the majority of the fan base was created by us, so it’s just incredible. Winning over the Real Madrid fan base, being with the top politicians, being on television, heck, I even get recognized by older women. I say to myself, ‘This is crazy. This is all so crazy.’ But we’re staying as humble as possible and as grateful as possible.”

Shortly after winning the UFC featherweight title at UFC 298 last month, Topuria met with the president of Spain, did the honorary kick-off at the Real Madrid vs. Sevilla game, and appeared on the biggest talk shows in the country, among other things.

The UFC is aware of the attention Topuria has been getting in his home country, and they’ve expressed publicly their interest in having a debut event in Spain. Climent is confident that Topuria can easily headline and sell out a UFC event in Spain’s most prestigious stadium, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu.

“I’m sure he sells out El Bernabéu and not just of Spanish fans,” Climent explained. “Spain is the destination where all Europeans go on vacation. It’s very easy to come here and realize what paradise Spain is, so yeah, I’m sure he sells it out.

“Also, El Bernabéu is not just a stadium. When you look at it from the outside, it’s closed like an arena. They have some machines that cover the grass field and the seat sections can be made closer. It’s all now automatic and new. I think they just reopened it this year. It’s all modern and new. If I’m not mistaken, this year, they’re projected to do the NFL, NBA, so they’re bringing in many new projects. So why not also the UFC?”

Climent strongly believes that Spain is primed for a UFC event. Not only does it have a champion in Topuria, but it’s also a country with a passion for sports, and MMA could be added to its list.

“We deserve it and Spain deserves a UFC event,” Climent said. “At the end of the day, I think this greatly benefits the UFC because they can create a ton of lifelong fans. Spain is a place where people really like sports, and the UFC being a new sport here while having a star like Ilia, why not?”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

Marlon Vera dreams of bringing UFC to Ecuador but first must claim gold from Sean O’Malley

Marlon Vera hopes to win the UFC title this Saturday and get closer to bringing the UFC to Ecuador.

MIAMI – As seen by the media attention this week ahead of UFC 299, [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] has proven to be a superstar for Ecuador, and “Chito” is hoping to turn that interest into a future UFC event for his country.

Vera (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC), the greatest MMA fighter to come out of Ecuador, fights this Saturday for the UFC bantamweight title as he takes on champion [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in the headlining act of UFC 299 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+). It’s a huge fight for his career as it’s the first time he competes for a UFC title, but Vera also sees it as a huge fight for his country since he believes the idea of having a UFC event in Ecuador is very dependent on his success.

“That’s one of my biggest dreams, but personally, like for example, look at Mexico,” Vera told reporters, including MMA Junkie, in Spanish at Wednesday’s UFC 299 media day. “Mexico has champions and former champions. Look at Alexa Grasso, Yair (Rodriguez) who was interim champion, Brandon (Moreno) who was champion, lost, but then won it again – they went last month and in 2019, so that shows you how difficult it is to get them to your country.

“In Mexico, they just built a Performance Institute, and they have a bigger infrastructure in the sport itself. Ecuador doesn’t have that yet. Some of those Ecuadorians that fought in Contender Series didn’t do too well. Today it’s probably easier for them to go to Spain, Argentina or other countries. It’s tough because I’d love to see the UFC go to Ecuador and fight in Ecuador, but from my experience, you look around and in terms of hotels, security, there’s a still a lot to go. I think that it’s something will happen eventually, and I have that responsibility this Saturday. Winning this fight will get us a bit closer to making it happen.”

O’Malley vs. Vera is a rematch that’s been almost four years in the making. The two fought back in August 2020 in the co-main event of UFC 252. That night, Vera stopped O’Malley in the first round and became, still to this day, the only man to defeat O’Malley.

Vera is hoping to beat O’Malley a second time and make history for his country by becoming the first Ecuador-born fighter to claim UFC gold.

“For me, please keep bringing in those good vibes. Keep showing me that support because that can only help,” Vera said. “As an Ecuadorian, I want to give that victory to the country and I want to take that belt to Ecuador. This motivates me and helps me wake up in the morning every day. I’m always grateful for the support of the people.”

[lawrence-related id=2722138,2722059]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

UFC debutant Robelis Despaigne sets sight on heavyweight title: ‘I’m very ambitious with my dreams’

6-foot-7 Olympic medalist Robelis Despaigne has his sights on the heavyweight title ahead of his debut at UFC 299.

MIAMI – [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag]’s MMA career is just getting going, yet the heavyweight prospect has no problem letting the world know his intentions.

Saturday, Despaigne (4-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his UFC debut on the preliminary card of UFC 299 against Josh Parisian (15-7 MMA, 2-4 UFC). The Olympic silver medalist in taekwondo, representing Cuba, hopes this is the beginning of his path to the UFC heavyweight title.

“Of course I want to be champion,” Despaigne told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I’m very ambitious with my dreams. That’s my goal: Win the UFC heavyweight title and defend it multiple times.”

Despaigne debuts with only four professional MMA fights under his belt – which is a rare sight in the UFC. The 35-year-old understands he’s been fast-tracked to the UFC, but he thinks he’s more than ready for what’s to come.

“From the paths that I’ve seen, many people get to the UFC with eight or 10 fights. But I’ve had the privilege to get here in the UFC with only four fights,” Despaigne said. “Now I just have to show why I’m here.”

Despaigne is amazed to be debuting at UFC 299, one of the most stacked cards in recent years. Although to many this may add pressure, Despaigne is happy to be debuting in front of a Miami crowd that will have many Cubans present.

“I’m very happy and satisfied that I was able to get to this stage, the world of UFC,” Despaigne said. “I’m very happy to be among all these great names. I’ve gotten a chance to see more than half of the big names that make up this card. It’s always good to be surrounded by so many great figures.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Ilia Topuria’s coach advises Alexander Volkanovski to take tuneup fight over rematch: ‘That would be the smartest thing’

UFC champ Ilia Topuria’s coach, Jorge Climent, thinks Alexander Volkanovski should reconsider his desire for an immediate rematch.

[autotag]Jorge Climent[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] should avoid taking an immediate rematch against his pupil, [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], at all costs.

Coach Climent, who coaches Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) along with brother Agustin Climent, thinks Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) should really consider taking a tuneup fight before trying to avenge his championship defeat to “El Matador.”

It’s not that Climent is looking to avoid the Australian or even just pursue other opportunities with Topuria. He genuinely thinks that it’s a bad idea for the 35-year-old to try to rematch Topuria right away given his current form.

“I do believe that Volkanovski deserves a rematch for everything he’s done in this sport, plus the short-notice fight he took,” Climent told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “However, if I were his team or his friend, I’d tell him, ‘Look, relax. Go get another fight to get back on your feet, go feel good again, win, and then we go after him.’ That would be the smartest thing he could do. And again, if I were his friend, that’s what I’d recommend him.”

Climent says it’s not a matter of deserving or not. He does believe Volkanovski should be granted a rematch should he want to exercise that option, but he just wouldn’t advise it.

Topuria knocked out Volkanovski to win the featherweight title last month at UFC 298. It was Volkanovski’s second straight KO loss after, four months prior, he was stopped by Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.

“Of course Volkanovski deserves it, but I would find it unfair,” Climent explained. “He’s coming off two defeats, and I don’t see him recovered enough to go for the immediate rematch. That’s why, if I were his friend, I’d tell him, ‘Take it easy, go do another fight, get your confidence back up, and we’ll do it again.'”

Either way, what’s fair is fair, and Climent is not ruling out an immediate rematch with Volkanovski for Topuria’s first title defense. At 145 pounds, he thinks it’s between Volkanovski or former UFC champion Max Holloway.

“I think Volkanovski and Holloway deserve it most,” Climent said. “After that, it’s pretty even among everyone else. I think those two are the ones that most deserve to fight for the title – Holloway and Volkanovski.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420036286]

Daniel Marcos sets goal of entering UFC bantamweight rankings in 2024

Ahead of his return at UFC Fight Night 236, Daniel Marcos sets a goal to enter the top 15 rankings in 2024.

[autotag]Daniel Marcos[/autotag] is a man with a plan, and he’s set the goal of earning a spot on the UFC official rankings this year.

The Peruvian bantamweight remains unbeaten in his professional career, and has a chance this Saturday to go 3-0 inside the octagon. Marcos (15-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) takes on Aori Qileng (25-11 MMA, 3-3 UFC) in the opening bout of UFC Fight Night 236, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Marcos believes a win this Saturday, plus a couple more later this year, and he should merit a stop among the best 15 fighters at bantamweight.

“This year I’ve set the goal of entering the top 15,” Marcos told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “That’s what I’ve set out for myself this year. I think I’m on a good path and going at a good pace. I will get even closer after this fight I’ll be having, I just need to keep showing what I’m capable of.

“I think two more fights, which is what I have in mind with my team, and I can get in the top 15. I think things will go my way this year. I’m advancing and this is what’s next. I plan on winning on February 10 and then be looking for someone in the top 15 or close, so I can enter.”

Marcos is feeling at home now in the UFC’s octagon. With two fights under his belt, and in arena shows, he no longer feels like a rookie – which is why this year he wants to further establish himself in the promotion.

“That’s now behind me,” Marcos said when asked if he still feels like a rookie. “That’s behind me and of course there’s always nerves and some fear, but that’s normal ahead of a fight. I was born for this, and I see myself as a champion in the future. This is what’s next, this fight in a couple of days, so I can show everything that I have evolved since my last fight.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 236.

UFC’s Claudio Puelles explains how loss to Dan Hooker put him in a ‘ready to die’ mentality

Claudio Puelles reflects on his loss to Dan Hooker ahead of his return at UFC Mexico.

Growth can sometimes be painful, and that’s certainly been the case for UFC lightweight [autotag]Claudio Puelles[/autotag].

Not long ago, the Peruvian fighter was carrying plenty of hype, with many in MMA keeping tabs on his rise through what historically has been one of the toughest divisions in the sport. That all came to a halt, however, when Puelles (12-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) was stopped by long-time veteran Dan Hooker at UFC 281 in November 2022.

Puelles, at the time 26, saw his five-fight winning streak snapped by the man he had called out. It was a tough loss to process, but one that Puelles said sparked positive change.

“I think that I entered the octagon that night with a wrong idea, and things didn’t go the way I thought they would,” Puelles told MMA Junkie in Spanish when reflect on the loss to Hooker. “Things did come close to going the way I wanted, but in the end they didn’t.

“When you enter the octagon you have to be ready to die, that’s the truth. It might sound harsh or dramatic, but it’s the truth. You need to be ready to go in there and die if necessary. That night, I had an idea to make the fight very clean, and that’s not how it turned out.

“However, things have now changed, time has gone by, and now my mentality is much different. I’m ready to step in that octagon, ready to die if necessary. For me, there’s no other option. If the fight needs to be away over three rounds, then it’s going to be three hard rounds. If the fight ends in one round, then it ends in one round.”

Puelles returns to the octagon on Feb. 24 at UFC Fight Night 237 at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City (ESPN+), and he takes on Fares Ziam in a 155-pound bout.

It’s been more than a year since Puelles stepped in the octagon. He admits it was challenging to put the Hooker loss behind him given the opportunity he had. However, Puelles has finally moved on, he said, and is eager to apply the things he’s learned against Ziam.

“Yeah, at first it was painful,” Puelles said when asked about how he dealt with the loss to Hooker. “It was painful because I wanted to win and get in the top 10 and all that, but then that went away. I returned to work and my life and continued to do everything.

“I’m a better fighter today because of it. Many people expected a certain type of performance from me, but I still came out more of a fighter than when I stepped in the cage that day because I learned a lot and I picked up experience. This is part of it. I turned the page quickly, and I’ve been improving and working on the things I needed this the last year or so.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 237.

Brandon Moreno’s ideal scenario: Earn title shot at UFC Mexico, challenge Alexandre Pantoja at Noche UFC

Here’s what the ideal scenario for 2024 looks like to Brandon Moreno, which involves Noche UFC.

[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] knows the world of MMA is an unpredictable one, but that doesn’t mean he can’t try to envision future plans.

The former UFC flyweight champion would like to reclaim his title in 2024, and he has a good idea on how he wants to get it done. First, Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC) will have to beat Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC Fight Night taking place Feb. 24 in Mexico City.

He hasn’t been promised a title shot by the UFC, but he believes he’ll get one if he gets his hand raised.

“They insinuate it, but they don’t tell you explicitly that you’ll be fighting for the belt,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish when asked if UFC has promised him a title shot. “Obviously, you start doing your own math, as well. If I get the victory, there’s no one else in the division. You can maybe talk about Manel Kape and (Muhammad) Mokaev, who has a good streak, but I think every single one of them has an unknown.

“Despite defeating Tim Elliott in his last fight, he always leaves you with the doubt if he’s ready for the top five of the division. And regarding Manel Kape, we first need to see him fight. It’s unfortunate for him that his career has been with so many roadblocks due to so many fights falling through for him. So for one reason or another, my name is still there, even though there are some that want to discard me, I’m still there. So yeah, I want to win this fight.”

Moreno is 0-3 against Pantoja, most recently losing his title to the Brazilian back in July 2023. If given the title shot, Moreno would like to challenge for the belt on a special date – Sept. 16, Mexican Independecne Day.

“My ideal scenario would be to win this fight on the 24th and then fight on Noche UFC in September later this year,” Moreno said. “At the end of the day, I’ve made so many plans that haven’t panned out perfectly, at least, but yeah, that’s my roadmap for 2024.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

Ex-Bellator title challenger Alejandra Lara staying positive despite PFL release: ‘I’m not scared of the future’

Former Bellator title challenger Alejandra Lara reacts to her release following’s PFL’s purchase of Bellator.

[autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag] now is a free agent.

The former Bellator women’s flyweight title challenger was released by the PFL in the wake of its recent acquisition of Bellator. Lara (9-7), who renewed her contract with Bellator after her most recent performance, had been working with the promotion prior to the sale on her return. However, those plans were put on ice with the sale, and eventually terminated after the deal was struck.

Although disappointed she was let go, it doesn’t entirely surprise her. She expected cuts with the merger.

“The news didn’t catch me completely by surprise,” Lara told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I had considered it and spoke about it with my manager. Keeping in mind my recent record, I knew there was a possibility, but that was never something that kept me down. I had a big jump early in my career, so this is an opportunity to slow things down. Bellator wanted me to fight, and they had me waiting, but with the switch the person that now makes the decision is not the same.”

Lara said she never spoke to anyone at the PFL and wasn’t paid for any of her remaining fights on her contract – although contractually, PFL is in no obligation to do so.

“Azul” is on a four-fight skid, which is why she thinks the PFL made the decision to cut her. However, she thinks that skid is a deceiving one given all those loses came by decision, two were splits, and two of her opponents missed weight.

“I never like to make excuses, but they were great fights and at the time I had that situation with my back where I couldn’t wrestle, and in the last camp I had difficulty just lifting my leg,” Lara said. “So after putting that behind me, I felt I was putting that part of my career behind me, but I did keep in mind the possibility that PFL maybe wouldn’t want me because they don’t know me and that hadn’t seen my fights. They just looked at my record, saw I lost the most recent ones, and that’s fine. I don’t blame them, but I have evolved so much as an athlete.

“Remember, I started at the top. I started by fighting the best in the world, and from there I began to get better. I know that now I’m at that level now, so I’m not scared of the future, and I’m very calm because you just have to go and earn what’s yours. I’m not scared of the future, and I’m living in the present.”

The 29-year-old is currently training in San Diego alongside Cat Zingano and Ilima-Lei MacFarlane and no longer working with Lobo Gym. She intends to continue fighting and is excited to see what opportunities comer her way now that she’s a free agent.

“Planning has never been my thing, but we’ve obviously looked at scenarios and there are possibilities in Latin America, the U.S., Asia,” Lara said. “A lot of things can happen, so we’ll see what offers come and what’s best for us.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030792]

Ilia Topuria’s coach: ‘Everything is in our favor’ heading into UFC 298 title fight vs. Alexander Volkanovski

Ilia Topuria’s coach, Jorge Climent, is confident that his fighter is technically superior to UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski.

The confidence of [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]’s team is at an all-time high as they prepare for their first UFC championship fight.

Topuria, training under Climent Club in Alicante, Spain, is wrapping up camp for his featherweight title bout against champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 298, which goes down Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Jorge Climent, head coach of the gym along with his brother Agustin Climent, believes they’re catching Volkanovski at his peak, despite a recent knockout loss to Islam Makhachev at 155 pounds, and they’ll have the edge in almost all areas entering UFC 298.

“I don’t see him vulnerable at all. He’s still the No. 1 guy at 145 pounds,” Climent told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “Yes, it’s true that he made a bad decision in taking a short-notice fight against someone with the caliber of Islam Makhachev, but I’m sure he as all the motivation in the world to win this fight.

“I don’t see him vulnerable. What I do see is that I see him inferior to Ilia’s level in all aspects. He does have more experience than Ilia, but I don’t see him better in the striking, in the takedowns or the ground. I think this is a fight where everything is in our favor.”

No one has been able to beat Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) at 145 pounds. His three loses came once at welterweight and twice at lightweight in champion vs. champion fights against Makhachev.

Climent is confident Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will get the job done and dethrone Volkanovski. He believes Volkanovski will try to wrestle Topuria in fear of his striking power. But regardless of how the fight plays out, Topuria’s team is ready.

“The focus has been on all dimensions, because we believe we need to be ready for wherever Volkanovski wants to take the fight,” Climent said. “We know that he’s a very complete fighter, but it all depends on the decision he’s going to make in that octagon.

“With all the trainings we’ve done, I think he’s going to be a bit scared of the power that Ilia has in his hands, and he will try to go for the takedown and make the fight dirty. But really, we’ve trained all aspects of Ilia: striking, jiu-jitsu. His jiu-jitsu hasn’t been on full display in the UFC, but if you look at his fights prior to the UFC, we submitted everyone in the first round.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

‘Salsa Boy’: The hilarious story behind UFC heavyweight Waldo Cortes-Acosta’s nickname

Here’s the origin story of Waldo Cortes-Acosta’s nickname “Salsa Boy.”

[autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag]’s “Salsa Boy” nickname was not self-appointed – like every proper nickname should be.

His curious fight nickname was earned and given by his teammates after a spicy story behind his cooking, not his dancing. Cortes-Acosta (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who fights in the UFC’s heavyweight division, hosted a party years ago at which he invited his friends and teammates from Ultimate Kombat Training Center in Arizona.

“I dance well, yeah – but the nickname actually came from salsa I made for a party,” Cortes-Acosta told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “There were guys from Nicaragua, Mexico, Brazil, Colombians – all over the place.”

Training with many Hispanic people, especially those from Central America, Cortes-Acosta knew he had to show out with the salsa given the high standards and high tolerance for spicy food at the party – and he might’ve gotten a bit overboard.

“A friend of mine, who we call ‘El Chimmy,’ and he already fought in the UFC, tried the sauce, and before he was like, ‘Yeah, of course I eat salsa. I’m good for that. No problem.’ Well, he tried my salsa and when he tried it, he had to drink a ton of milk, and he even jumped in the pool. He was sweating and everything.”

Cortes-Acosta made the salsa with a sauce that he had to sign a waiver to buy. It was serious stuff.

“Here in Arizona, I went to a store where they make you sign a document and everything,” Cortes-Acosta said. “The sauce had like 2 million (Scoville) points of potency or something like that. I signed the document, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to make the most of this sauce,’ because the Mexicans are always complaining saying everyone else’s salsas is not spicy. So I was like, ‘OK, we’ll see how they do now.'”

The sauce was a hot topic even the following day in training, which gave birth to his fight nickname “Salsa Boy.”

“We went to do sparring and I came in and said, ‘Where’s ‘El Chimmy’ so I can give him his salsa.’ And then from there, it stuck and everyone started calling me ‘Salsa Boy.'”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]