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Ilia Topuria's return to the octagon has been announced, as the undefeated No.9-ranked featherweight has found an opponent.
'El Matador' took to Twitter to announce the news:
"We have a fight!!! Se you soon ❤️🌹"
Alvaro Colmenero broke the news that Topuria will face a top-five featherweight in a main event bout at UFC Fight Night 227, tweeting:
"BREAKING: Per sources, Ilia Topuria will fight Josh Emmett in MAIN EVENT on 17 june."
Check out Alvaro Colmenero's tweet below:
Ilia Topuria has been calling for an opportunity to face a fighter ranked in the top-five of the featherweight division. He will now get that opportunity against Josh Emmett in the first main event of his UFC career. It will mark the second main event of the No.5-ranked featherweight's UFC career and his third five-round bout overall.
Topuria will enter the bout with a professional mixed martial arts record of 13 wins and no losses. He has won four bouts via knockout, eight via submission and one via decision. The No.9-ranked featherweight has picked up finishes in four of his five UFC appearances.
Emmett, meanwhile, has a record of 18 wins and three losses. He's coming off an interim featherweight title fight loss to No.1-ranked featherweight Yair Rodriguez. He has six knockout victories, two submission wins and ten decision verdicts. He has lost one bout via knockout, submission and decision apiece.
Ilia Topuria's return: 'El Matador' had called out Brian Ortega for turning down bout
Brian Ortega lost his last bout in devastating fashion, as a shoulder injury suffered in the first round rendered him unable to continue against Yair Rodriguez. 'T-City' does not have an opponent for his return, leading Ilia Topuria to call for an opportunity to face the No.3-ranked featherweight.
Ortega claimed that the No.9-ranked featherweight would need to work his way up the rankings, leading 'El Matador' to take to Twitter:
"@BrianTcity The only thing I hear are excuses, I was hoping you would accept the fight, since Mexican blood runs in your veins, and Mexicans are not in the habit of rejecting fights. You don't seem confident! Lack of selfesteem?"
Check out Ilia Topuria's tweet to Brian Ortega below:
With Topuria now scheduled to face a top-five opponent, a victory would certainly place him on Ortega's radar. 'El Matador' may have his sights set higher, though, if he picks up another dominant finish.
