UFC featherweight champion Elia Topuria is hoping to invite Lionel Messi to his next fight, if it takes place in Miami, and get back at Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, 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 Victory striker was filmed telling former MMA champion turned boxer Francis Ngannou and his trainer Eric Niksic that Topuria, nicknamed The Matador, “talks too much” and “didn’t fight the big guys.”
Topuria promptly knocked out American Holloway in the third round and now looks to take his next fight in South Florida.
If he does, only one of the greatest footballers of their generation will be invited, and it is not the Portugal captain.
“The person I would personally invite there (in Miami) is (Lionel) Messi because he lives there, so fuck Cristiano as long as Messi is there,” Topuria, a Real Madrid fan, told Cade Cope's El Partidazo show.
😬🍿Ilya Topuria is ruthless
Elia: “Fuck Cristiano as long as Messi is there.”
Interviewer: “I didn't see this coming, Elijah.”
Elijah: “Volkanovski and Holloway didn't expect this to happen either.”
🎥@partidazocope 🔹 pic.twitter.com/dixly8nteU
– Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 10, 2024
In response to a question 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 that, it doesn't concern me. Cristiano always talks.”
