Ilia Topuria part-owner of MMA promotion WOW FC, sees it as 'perfect platform' to grow sport in Spain

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is expanding his role in MMA.

Beyond his duties as a fighter, Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is now part-owner of Way of Warrior FC, one of Spain’s top professional MMA promotions. WOW, along with Topuria, announced the news of their partnership Tuesday, citing that Topuria is now one of the main stakeholders.

“My team and I are immensely happy to join such a promising project like WOW which, with everyone’s effort, will become the perfect platform to help all the Spanish fighters continue to grow in this sport,” Topuria said in Spanish in a statement.

WOW, which operates out of Madrid, has hosted more than 30 events and positioned itself as one of the most, if not the most, important MMA promotion in Spain. It streams on Movistar+ and UFC Fight Pass.

Their first event with Topuria on board will be Sept. 14 at Palacio de Vistalegre Arena in Madrid. Topuria will attend the event, which is a little over a month away from his first UFC title defense. Topuria will take on former champion Max Holloway on Oct. 26 in the main event of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.