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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"channelId":"92686d1e-5985-40e1-80f3-6f5a54f55b39","competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Real Madrid to take on Barcelona on Sunday at 9 pm ET</li><li>Madridista Topuria to miss the final quarter of the match</li><li>Warned to knockout Tebas for inconvenient timing</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

MMA star Ilia Topuria vows to 'knock out' La Liga chief Javier Tebas over El Clasico scheduling - with Real Madrid vs Barcelona clashing with his UFC 308 fight against Max Holloway

LaLiga

Celta Vigo

Barcelona

Leganes

Real Madrid

<p>The iconic La Liga showdown, which will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday at 9 pm Spanish time (8 pm UK time), clashes with Topuria’s much-awaited UFC bout against Holloway in Dubai. Topuria’s fight is set to begin at 10:30 pm, just as the Clasico is nearing its final quarter, causing disappointment for the MMA star.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Topuria, who is a loyal Real Madrid fan, voiced his discontent and told reporters: "Let's see if I've made a mistake and instead of knocking out Holloway, I have to knock out the person responsible for putting that match at the same time and on the same day as my fight."</p><p>When a journalist pointed out that Tebas, the president of La Liga, is the one responsible for scheduling decisions, Topuria didn’t hold back. With a mischievous smile, the UFC featherweight champion responded, “Then we will go for Javier Tebas. He’s next.”</p>

WHAT TOPURIA SAID

<p>Tebas, not one to shy away from verbal jugglery, quickly took to social media to address Topuria’s remarks.</p><p>He wrote on X: "Ilia Topuria, I didn’t know I was in your knockout plans! I’m warning you that I’m harder to knock out than scheduling El Clasico at the time everyone wants.”</p><p>The official ended his response by sending his best wishes to the fighter, saying, “But give Max Holloway your all!”</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Topuriailia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Topuriailia</a> No sabía que me tenías en tus planes de knockouts! Te aviso que soy más difícil de tumbar que organizar ELCLÁSICO a la hora que todo el mundo quiere. 😜 Pero a Max Holloway dale con todo! <a href="https://t.co/vh6oEQxLhH">pic.twitter.com/vh6oEQxLhH</a></p>— Javier Tebas Medrano (@Tebasjavier) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tebasjavier/status/1849097853450231998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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HOW DID TEBAS RESPOND TO TOPURIA

<p>Real Madrid has previously shown its support for Topuria as he was invited to perform the ceremonial kick-off during Los Blancos' match against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu back in February following his triumph over Alexander Volkanovski to become the first UFC featherweight champion from Spain.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Following the El Clasico showdown on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti’s men are set to face Valencia and Osasuna in La Liga, with a Champions League date with AC Milan on November 6 sandwiched between the two domestic fixtures. </p>

WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

MMA star Ilia Topuria vows to 'knock out' La Liga chief Javier Tebas over El Clasico scheduling - with Real Madrid vs Barcelona clashing with his UFC 308 fight against Max Holloway | Goal.com

MMA star Ilia Topuria wants to &quot;knock out&quot; La Liga chief Javier Tebas over El Clasico scheduling as it clashes with his UFC fight vs. Max Holloway.

MMA star Ilia Topuria vows to &apos;knock out&apos; La Liga chief Javier Tebas over El Clasico scheduling - with Real Madrid vs Barcelona clashing with his UFC 308 fight against Max Holloway