UFC 317 was an eventful night for Ilia Topuria in Las Vegas and the fighter brutally stopping Charles Oliveira in the first round was just the beginning.
Topuria had promised to knock Oliveira out in the first round and did just that to claim the vacant lightweight title belt left behind by Islam Makhachev's move to welterweight, marking his own seamless move from featherweight after vacating that belt in April.
The 28-year-old's emphatic victory was witnessed at close quarters by British fighter Paddy Pimblett, who left his seat to engage Topuria in an altercation in the cage and tee up a future lightweight showdown.
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But UFC commentator and controversial podcaster Joe Rogan has another opponent in mind for El Matador and would be willing to go back on a self-inflicted but strictly observed rule in order to be a part of the action.
Rogan is a familiar ringside voice and has worked the major UFC events in Las Vegas, Newark, Miami and Inglewood this year but did not visit Australia for UFC 312 or Canada for UFC 315.
The 57-year-old New Jersey native no longer travels to overseas events but the prospect of Topuria scrapping with Makhachev would be too much for him to resist.
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Topuria fighting at home in Spain has been speculated about for some time with the mouth-watering prospect of a battle between champions at the home of Real Madrid perhaps closer now than ever.
The new lightweight champion is open to the idea but has indicated a preference for fighting on a local schedule rather than for a North American audience, which would mean taking to the octagon in the middle of the night.
Whatever time the bell rings if the Bernabeu gets its bout, you'd better believe Rogan will be at the mic.
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"I might have to go to Spain. I might have to go to Spain… I’ve always wanted to go to Spain anyways. Let’s go to Spain. I mean, Islam and him in Spain, come on. Come on," he said.
UFC president and CEO Dana White quickly poured cold water on the idea of Topuria defending his belt in Madrid, telling the media that there are no plans to take an event to Spain.
Meanwhile, local reports suggest the stadium is limited to football for the time being in any case.
Chris Nee