Last week, UFC featherweight king Ilia Topuria reached the pinnacle of his career, having not only dispatched former champion and current BMF titleholder Max Holloway into the shadow realm but also being the leader of a new era at 145lbs. However, his journey in this division is not yet complete, as a few challenges might still await him. Number #3 ranked Diego Lopez and perennial top dog Alexander Volkanovski are rumored to be next for him, with Topuria seeming more focused on facing the Aussie, whom he labeled a “deserving candidate” for the title shot at the upcoming UFC event in Australia next year.

Yet, with the latest news from UFC insider and fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen, the situation in the featherweight division has taken a turn. Sonnen recently revealed that there are discussions about an interim title fight in Australia involving Volkanovski and Lopes. ‘The Bad Guy’ stated, “Now we’re hearing rumors about an interim champion. Bringing him together, let’s go out to Australia. In fact, remove a healthy, unwilling Ilia Topuria. That’s the way the story goes. I have a hard time believing that, but the way the story goes is that Ilia Topuria is healthy—he is not sick, he is not injured.”

This statement appears to wash away the hopes of MMA fans in Australia wanting to see Ilia Topuria face Alexander Volkanovski in the octagon. The reason behind this sudden change of plans involves rumors regarding Ilia Topuria’s wish to defend his next title fight in Spain. Nevertheless, with the recent move by Barcelona’s city council to close the door on UFC events in their city, doubts about the future of Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2.0 are rising.

Is Ilia Topuria’s MMA Showcase in Spain at risk?

Back before the conclusion of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, UFC CEO Dana White claimed while speaking to OUTTA POCKET, “We will try to go to Africa for the first time and we will go to Spain for the first time next year.” However, it appears that his vision is facing some obstacles. As reported by the Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona City Council is currently not interested in hosting UFC events, which is not a surprising decision given the council’s stance on MMA.

The UFC has already extended its reach to various international countries, and Spain has not remained untouched by its influence, thanks to Ilia Topuria’s rise in the MMA world. This has led to the growth of local MMA ventures like WOW FC and WAR MMA, which primarily hold events in Topuria’s hometown of Alicante and the capital city of Madrid. Now, it has been confirmed that the Barcelona City Council has acknowledged that no discussions or talks have taken place with the UFC thus far. All eyes are on Dana White and Ilia Topuria to see when they will make a statement.

What are your thoughts on Chael Sonnen’s claims? Do you think creating an interim title for the featherweight division makes sense while the champion is still in good health? Drop your opinion below.