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VIDEO | Ilia Topuria parties in the streets after Spain wins 2026 FIFA World Cup

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VIDEO | Ilia Topuria parties in the streets after Spain wins 2026 FIFA World Cup

Former UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria was having the time of his life with his young son after Spain's World Cup win.

Just weeks ago, Ilia Topuria suffered the first setback of his otherwise stellar fighting career when he lost the undisputed UFC lightweight title to Justin Gaethje at the White House. Despite being just weeks removed from suffering the jaws of defeat, Topuria is in good spirits after his native Spain pulled off a monumental football win.

The Spain Men's National Team captured its second FIFA World Cup title by defeating reigning champion Argentina on Sunday in New Jersey. Spain capped off an unblemished run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by holding Lionel Messi and Argentina scoreless in the Final.

Topuria, who has developed a close friendship with Spanish football legend Sergio Ramos in recent years, is one of the biggest stars in Spain. Despite losing the UFC lightweight title, Topuria is still beloved in Spain and could play a key role in bringing the Octagon to the nation for the first time.

As Spain hoisted the trophy at MetLife Stadium, Topuria shared an unforgettable moment celebrating with his son and thousands of fans.

WATCH: Ilia Topuria celebrates in the streets of Spain after FIFA World Cup win

Watch Topuria celebrate with thousands of Spanish football fans below.

As seen in the video above, Topuria was wearing sunglasses at night, potentially to prevent further damage to his eyes after suffering two broken orbital bones against Gaethje. The former UFC lightweight titleholder could potentially return to the Octagon later this year, possibly against longtime rival Paddy Pimblett.

In the meantime, Topuria is enjoying some well-earned time off as he plots his return to the Octagon. After Spain's big win, the sting from Topuria's most recent fight might hurt a little less.

Who should Ilia Topuria fight next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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MMA

Sean O’Malley: Yadong Song is a ‘problem’ for Merab Dvalishvili

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Sean O’Malley: Yadong Song is a ‘problem’ for Merab Dvalishvili
Sean
O’Malley believes Yadong
Song's win over Umar
Nurmagomedov warrants a title shot in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Song (24-9-1) pulled off a massive upset, flatlining Nurmagomedov
(20-2) with an uppercut in the second round of their
UFC Shanghai headliner. O'Malley believes Song will be a
“problem†for former champion Merab
Dvalishvili and claims the two should fight if the latter
reclaims the bantamweight title at
UFC 333.

Sean O'Malley wants Yadong Song to challenge Merab Dvalishvili
if he wins the UFC 333 trilogy

Dvalishvili takes on current champ Petr Yan at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi in a trilogy bout. O'Malley wants
Song to challenge Dvalishvili if the Georgian defeats Yan.

“I want to see Song vs. Merab,†O'Malley said on Instagram. “I've
been saying for a couple of years now, before I even fought Merab
— Song is a problem for Merab. If Merab wins the title, Song vs.
Merab.â€

O'Malley (20-3) beat Song via unanimous decision this past January.
The Chinese 135-pounder has since rebounded with wins over Deiveson
Figueiredo and Nurmagomedov. Meanwhile, “Suga†stopped Aiemann
Zahabi at
UFC Freedom 250 this past June and is campaigning for a title
shot if Yan retains the belt, having already beaten the Russian
previously.

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Brandon Jenkins explains wild journey to Mike Perry upset knockout: ‘I heard Nick Diaz got the call’

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Brandon Jenkins explains wild journey to Mike Perry upset knockout: ‘I heard Nick Diaz got the call’

ORLANDO, Fla.—Duel Arena main event winner Brandon Jenkins talks to MMA Fighting about the fight week that came out of nowhere and ended with him defeating BKFC star and UFC veteran Mike Perry.

Jenkins was victorious Saturday, earning a technical knockout stoppage on an injured Perry, just two days after receiving the call to replace Dillon Danis. Like Perry, Jenkins had recently appeared on the inaugural MVP MMA event this past May when he earned a split decision over Chris Avila, but he didn't expect a major opportunity to come along again so soon.

“I'm happy he brought me in here and he picked me, because I heard Nick Diaz got the call,†Jenkins said. “I also heard Tyron Woodley, and also heard Anthony Pettis, so I got picked, so I'm happy about that.â€

Watch more of Jenkins' chat with MMA Fighting, including a breakdown of his win over Perry and his hopes of getting a fight with Avila's close friend Nate Diaz next.

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Song Yadong calls knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai ‘the best moment of my life’

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Song Yadong calls knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai ‘the best moment of my life’

Song Yadong is riding high.

On Saturday, Song scored the biggest win of his career, knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Shanghai. Not only was it a huge upset win for Song, but it also put him right back into the title mix at 135 pounds, and it all happened in his home country. So afterward, “The Kung Fu Kid†was understandably ecstatic about the win.

“Amazing. I'm feeling amazing,†Song told UFC on Paramount+. “I feel like this is the best moment in my life, right now. I knocked out Umar. Everybody's saying he's the best fighter and he has very good grappling. Everyone's saying he's a future champion. See what happened? I knocked him out. I'm so proud of myself.â€

Song was a massive underdog heading into the fight, with many believing Nurmagomedov was the next bantamweight champion. However, Song stymied Nurmagomedov's grappling game in the first round, and in the second round, flattened the Russian fighter with an uppercut timed perfectly when Nurmagomedov changed levels for another takedown. Song said this was the plan from the beginning.

“Here I want to thank my team, Team Alpha Male, and Rudy Hernandez,†Song said. “Rudy is my boxing coach, and he told me before the fight, ‘You can finish this guy with an uppercut.' There was an uppercut in my mind I'm looking for. There! [Laughs].â€

The win makes it two in a row for Song since losing a decision to Sean O'Malley in January, and puts him on the shortlist for the next bantamweight title shot. Champion Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili are set to settle their rivalry with a trilogy bout at UFC 333 in October, with O'Malley potentially waiting in the wings for the winner. Song now seems to be next in line, meaning he could get another crack at Yan, who won a decision over him in 2024, and Song would love that.

“I like a rematch with Petr, because we fought back two years ago,†Song said. “I was too young; I was too rushed. But I feel like [I lost by] just a little bit. I can win that fight. So, if a rematch, I can also knock him out, I believe.â€

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