Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Early Morning Ilia Topuria UFC 317 Fight Rivals Real Madrid Champions League Viewership

El Matador’s Historic KO Win Over Charles Oliveira Drew Record-Breaking Early Morning Viewership in Spain.

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Ilia Topuria’s stunning final win over UFC legend Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 crowned him a two-division champion. Along with that, the win also made history in his home country of Spain. As per reports from Marca, the fight drew massive television viewership figures.

The numbers even rivaled last Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League match. The match was aired live at 6:00 AM local time in Spain. Even so, the UFC 317 main event featuring Topuria reportedly captured an audience similar to that of a primetime Real Madrid match.

Ilia Topuria's title fight aired at 6am in Spain… and still pulled Real Madrid-level viewership 📈

The star power is undeniable 🌟 #UFC317 pic.twitter.com/bAZxyHaAmi
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 30, 2025

The revelation came during a post-fight press conference. There Topuria, visibly emotional, was informed that his performance had matched the Spanish footballing giant’s reach. Hearing it, he told Marca, “I feel very proud, excited. What a good fact. I love it.”

UFC CEO Dana White was told the same later. He confirmed that he was “thrilled” by the numbers coming out of Spain. “We know that [Topuria] is big over there,” White said, “Tonight was like his big coming-out party. He moved up to win another title and did it in a spectacular fashion.”

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Ilia Topuria Among Spain’s Biggest Sporting Names

Topuria, now 17-0 and the lightweight champion, has solidified his place as one of the UFC’s global superstars. Nicknamed ‘El Matador’, he delivered a brutal knockout blow to Oliveira in the very first round, fulfilling his promise made pre-fight.

The massive viewership certainly demonstrates Topuria’s rising stardom. Additionally, it also highlights the growing influence of mixed martial arts in traditional football-heavy markets like Spain. Dana White revealed that Topuria’s performance and global appeal now put him alongside Spain’s biggest sporting names like Rafael Nadal and Fernando Alonso.

Also Read: Vinicius Jr. Gives A Heartfelt Interview After Salzburg Win: Real Madrid’s Star Shines in CWC 2025

Looking ahead, Topuria has set his sights on something even bigger. He is targeting a UFC event at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2026. Talking about it, Topuria said, “It’s going to happen, it’s inevitable. It would be like a Champions League match.”

He added, “Spain, Georgia, all the English there for Paddy Pimblett. It would be a riot.” As viewership records break and ambitions soar, Ilia Topuria isn’t just winning titles, he’s slowly becoming the face of combat sports in Spain. Answering if he would become the face for Europe he said, “I hope so.”

Champions League

Charles Oliveira

Ilia Topuria

Real Madrid

Spain

UFC 317

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.