Ilia Topuria was joined by a Real Madrid legend for the weigh-in ceremony ahead of his title fight against Max Holloway.

Topuria will defend his UFC featherweight championship belt against Hawaiian star Holloway, who is looking to reclaim the title he lost to Alexander Volkanovski in 2019.

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The two fighters weighed in and faced off on Friday before Saturday’s main event at UFC 308, but Topuria left with a familiar face – a footballer who won 22 trophies, including four Champions Leagues and five La Liga titles during his career with the Spanish giants.

He also won the World Cup and two European Championships.

This brilliant legend was none other than Sergio Ramos, the central defender whose career spanned 20 years, playing for Sevilla, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

In February, shortly after Topuria became champion after knocking out Volkanovski in the second round, the featherweight received a standing ovation at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium.

The Georgian-born fighter, who moved to Alicante with his family 15 years ago, received a big hug from Ramos before meeting Madrid’s players after their 1-0 win over Sevilla.

Jude Bellingham missed this match due to injury, but the England midfielder was sure to get a photo with Topuria and his CFU belt after victory.

Ramos was also at Topuria training in its high-tech gym which includes hyperbaric recovery and cryotherapy chambers.

This isn’t the first time the defender has been seen at a UFC event. In June 2023, Ramos and Barcelona Player Ferran Torres was ringside at UFC Jacksonville to watch Topuria vs. Josh Emmett.

Topuria reigned victorious after a dominant display, bloodying the face of Emmett who survived all five rounds.

In August, Ramos was at “El Matador” taking boxing lessons.

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Finally, Ramos presented Topuria with a match jersey that the Spaniard wore against the champion Georgian national team.

The two kissed again and discussed their workout, before going their separate ways.

In its 30-year history, the UFC has never held an event in Spain, but Topuria could be the man to host an exciting evening in Madrid and perhaps the 81,044-seat stadium.

Speaking after his title fight earlier this year, he said he would be “up for” a Volkanovski rematch if it happened in his adopted country. “No fucking problem,” the 27-year-old exclaimed.

Topuria was not happy with La Liga who scheduled the The Clasico immediately after the end of the match:

“Maybe I was wrong and instead of Holloway I will have to eliminate the person responsible for scheduling the Clasico at the exact same time and day as my fight,” he said.

At UFC 308, Topuria, 27, will face a tough opponent in Holloway, who was the former champion of the featherweight division.

The American national has been in good form, winning four of his last five fights, including a victory over Justin Gaethje as the two stood in the center and exchanged blows, which ended in a final round knockout.