Ilia Topuria dominates Josh Emmett in star-making win - ESPN

The UFC has one of its next big international stars — and its first from Spain.

With Spanish soccer legend Sergio Ramos cheering him on from cageside, the undefeated Ilia Topuria dominated Josh Emmett for the biggest win of his MMA career in the main event of UFC Jacksonville on Saturday. Topuria bloodied Emmett behind sharp boxing en route to a one-sided unanimous decision (50-44, 50-42, 49-45). The 50-42 scorecard is one of the most lopsided in MMA history.

ESPN had Emmett ranked No. 7 and Topuria No. 10 in the world at featherweight coming in. With the incredibly impressive win, Topuria vaults himself into the title conversation. Alexander Volkanovski will look to unify the UFC featherweight titles against interim champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 on July 8 in Las Vegas.

«I'm the next guy, without any doubt,» Topuria said in his postfight interview. "...I want Alex to defend that belt [against Rodriguez] and show to him and the whole world that his [reign] is going to end and mine is going to start."

Topuria worked beautifully behind his jab and landed big combinations throughout the fight, including dropping Emmett with a combo in the second round. By the fourth, Emmett's left eye was almost swollen shut, and he bled badly from several facial lacerations. Topuria dropped Emmett twice in the fourth round with punches and nearly finished him. But Emmett survived and came out swinging hard in the fifth round. Topuria, who also featured good leg kicks throughout, took Emmett down and weathered the storm.

«I showed once again no one can match my level of skill inside the cage,» Topuria said.

Judge Chris Lee issued Topuria the 50-42, giving him a 10-8 in the third round and a rare 10-7 in the fourth. Judge Sal D'Amato