Ilia Topuria has emerged as one of the UFC's biggest stars and a dominant figure in mixed martial arts. Ever since his debut on Fight Island in 2020, it was clear that Topuria had the potential to become one of the biggest stars in combat sports. And since emerging up the ranks, he has continuously proved that he is one of the most popular fighters on the planet, and that starts with an extremely catchy walkout song.
Topuria walks out to Cancion Del Mariachi by Antonio Banderas, which has become extremely popular amongst the UFC fanbase.
And during his time away from the action, ‘El Matador’ has continued sending fans crazy after performing his walkout song in front of 80,000 at a recent festival in Spain.
“What energy, what people! Thank you all,” Topuria captioned a video on his Instagram, showing him performing in front of screaming fans.
“I’ve done a lot of things in my life, but singing in front of 80 thousand people is really not (one of them). Another experience for my library,” Topuria continued.
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The Controversy with Terence Crawford
UFC fighter Ilia Topuria was not pleased to see Terence Crawford use the same song he traditionally walks out to before his fights. The track, known as "La Canción del Mariachi" by Antonio Banderas, has become Topuria's signature entrance music when he heads to the octagon.
Recently, the two fighters have exchanged jabs on social media, and this time was no different. First he calls me drunk... then he walks out to MY song. Crawford, whenever you want, I'll teach you how to dance that mariachi in the ring.
At the post-fight press conference, Crawford addressed the situation, stating he was unaware that Topuria used the same song for his own entrances. He also explained his personal reasons for choosing the track for this particular fight night.
Crawford dismisses Topuria's remarks
Confident in his abilities, Topuria claimed it would be easy for him to dispatch Crawford, not only in an MMA setting but even in a boxing ring. I won't talk about what would happen between me and Crawford in an octagon, I'll talk about what would happen in a ring.
Crawford, however, brushed off the comments with humor, refusing to engage in any serious back-and-forth with the UFC champion. That dude's drunk. You know, a lot of MMA guys, they drink a lot, so he must have been on that alcohol that day," Crawford joked, downplaying Topuria's challenge and making it clear he was not taking the threat seriously.
Read also: The Story of Ilia Topuria
Topuria's Callout to Canelo Álvarez
In addition to taunting Crawford, Topuria also attempted to provoke Canelo Álvarez, calling him out in the same post. So far, the Mexican boxing superstar has not responded, and likely may not even be familiar with Topuria or his statements.
For now, Canelo's focus remains on recovering from the devastating loss he suffered at the hands of Crawford. What was expected to be a celebratory night for the Mexican fighter quickly turned into a nightmare. From the very first round, it was evident that Crawford's strategy and punching power were on another level.
Canelo was outclassed from start to finish, unable to mount any meaningful offense as Crawford controlled every aspect of the fight.
Topuria's Impact and Future in UFC
Ilia Topuria has once again showcased that he is the biggest current star in combat sports, sending 80,000 fans wild during a performance.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is currently sitting on the sidelines waiting to see who will be his first title defense at 155lbs. Although there are many contenders who believe they should be next to fight ‘El Matador’, UFC insider Chael Sonnen recently revealed that Topuria’s first title defense will be against Arman Tsarukyan.
Read also: Ilia Topuria: Champion's Story
Sonnen claimed that the fight will take place in December, giving the Spaniard some time to continue enjoying himself outside of the Octagon.
Best Walkout Song in MMA?
Does Topuria currently have the best walkout song in MMA?
Along with Topuria, there are some other popular walkouts in MMA, with Alexander Volkanovski‘s Down Under walkout being wildly popular amongst the fans.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira‘s walkout has also been considered one of the best because of the cultural significance behind it.
Despite that, a large portion of the MMA fanbase considers ‘El Matador’s’ walkout to be the most electrifying, especially because of the ‘aura’ that he exudes during it.