Ilia Topuria: The New UFC Featherweight Champion

Ilia Topuria made history on Saturday night by becoming the first Georgian-Spanish fighter to win a UFC title. He knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the second round of their main event bout at UFC 298 in Anaheim, California.

Topuria, who was born in Germany to Georgian parents and moved to Spain when he was six years old, showed his striking skills and power by landing a devastating right hand that dropped Volkanovski and ended the fight. He improved his record to 14-0 and extended his UFC winning streak to six.

Topuria dedicated his victory to his fans in Spain and Georgia, and expressed his desire to fight Conor McGregor in a stadium in Madrid. He also received praise from UFC president Dana White, who said he was impressed by Topuria’s performance and planned to take a UFC event to Spain soon.

Topuria is the new face of the featherweight division and a rising star in the sport. He has proven himself to be a well-rounded and exciting fighter who can finish his opponents in spectacular fashion. He is also a proud representative of his two countries and cultures, and a role model for aspiring fighters in Europe and beyond.

Rafael Nadal trains hard for his comeback at Las Vegas exhibition and Indian Wells

Rafael Nadal is getting ready for his return to the ATP Tour after a long injury layoff that kept him out of action for most of 2023. The Spanish legend shared a video of himself hitting forehand drills on an indoor court at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Kuwait, where he recently opened a new branch of his tennis school.

Nadal, who underwent hip surgery in May last year, captioned the video with the Taylor Swift song ‘…Ready for It?’ playing in the background and wrote: “Work in progress”. He also added the hashtags #LasVegas and #IndianWells, indicating his next tournaments on the calendar.

The 37-year-old will make his comeback at the Las Vegas Open, an exhibition event that will take place from February 28 to March 2. He will face fellow Grand Slam champions Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray in a round-robin format. The event will also feature Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Ashleigh Barty and Coco Gauff in the women’s field.

After Las Vegas, Nadal will head to Indian Wells, where he will play his first official tournament since the 2023 Australian Open. The BNP Paribas Open, a Masters 1000 event, will run from March 7 to 18. Nadal has won the title three times in his career, in 2007, 2009 and 2013.

Nadal, who has 22 Grand Slam titles and a record 36 Masters 1000 trophies, has said that 2024 will “probably” be the final year of his career. He has also expressed his desire to play at the French Open, where he has won a record 14 times, and the Tokyo Olympics, where he hopes to win another gold medal. Nadal fans will be eager to see him back on the court and enjoy his legendary skills and passion for the game.

Carlos Sainz: The 61-year-old who conquered the desert

Carlos Sainz is not only a legend in the world of motorsport, but also a living proof that age is just a number. The Spanish driver, who turned 61 in February, won his fourth Rally Dakar title in Saudi Arabia, becoming the oldest winner in the history of the race.

Sainz, who is the father of Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr, dominated the 12-stage rally raid with his Audi RS Q e-Tron E2, a hybrid car that combines electric and combustion engines. He finished more than an hour ahead of his closest rival, Belgian Guillaume de Mevius, and almost 30 minutes ahead of his former WRC colleague, Sebastien Loeb.

Sainz, who has also won two World Rally Championships and one Race of Champions, showed his consistency and experience throughout the rally, avoiding major mistakes and navigating the tricky terrain of the Saudi desert. He did not win any stage outright, but he was always among the top contenders, securing his lead from the sixth stage onwards.

Sainz, who is nicknamed “El Matador”, dedicated his victory to his fans in Spain and Georgia, where he has a large following. He also thanked Audi for trusting him and his co-driver Lucas Cruz with their innovative car, which he said was a “special concept”. He added that he had to work hard to stay at the level he wanted, and that his passion for racing was still intact.

Sainz, who has now won the Dakar Rally with four different manufacturers (Volkswagen, Peugeot, Mini and Audi), is only behind Nasser Al-Attiyah (five wins) and Stephane Peterhansel (eight wins) in the all-time list of winners. He has not confirmed whether he will return next year, but he has hinted that 2024 could be his last season as a professional driver.

Sainz, who is also a proud ambassador of his two countries and cultures, Spain and Georgia, has inspired many young and aspiring drivers with his achievements and his attitude. He is a true champion who has conquered the desert and the hearts of millions of fans.

Questions:

• Ilia Topuria’s Achievement: What historic milestone did Ilia Topuria achieve in UFC 298, and who did he express a desire to fight next?

• Rafael Nadal’s Comeback: What are the two upcoming tournaments where Rafael Nadal will be making his return to the ATP Tour?

• Carlos Sainz’s Victory: How did Carlos Sainz demonstrate that age is just a number in the world of motorsport?

Spanish Word:

• Campeón: A champion or winner, often used in sports to describe someone who has achieved a significant victory or title.

Classroom Activity:

• Create a Sports Hero Webpage: Students can work in groups to create a webpage dedicated to a sports hero mentioned on this page, such as Ilia Topuria, Rafael Nadal, or Carlos Sainz. They should include a biography, a summary of their achievements, and multimedia elements like images or videos to enhance the presentation. This activity will help students practice web design, research skills, and celebrate the accomplishments of these athletes.