Ilia Topuria wasted no time at UFC 298 as he called out Conor McGregor moments after becoming the new featherweight champion.

El Matador knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the main event to claim the belt.

Topuria slumped Volkanovski in AnaheimCredit: Getty

A colossal right-hand felled the Australian in the second round, leaving him slumped at the side of the Octogan.

The win sees Topuria become the UFC’s first ever Spanish champ, highlighting even further the global reach of MMA’s premier organisation.

But the 27-year-old wasn’t going to rest on his laurels after reaching 15-0 with the victory.

He’s got bigger things on his mind and immediately put ‘Notorious’ on his radar.

“Conor McGregor, if you still have some balls, I will be waiting for you in Spain,” he roared.

And in his post-fight press conference, he reiterated his intentions.

Asked about the probability given it seems unlikely McGregor won’t fight at featherweight again, Topuria shot back: “Who said I want to fight him at 145lb?”

Queried about which weight the pair would clash at, he said: “Without any weight limit. There are no weights if I fight him. He can choose it, I give him that option.

McGregor is still being called out by rivals fightersCredit: Getty

“If he feels he is ready for this level of competition, he can choose the weight, I choose the place.”

McGregor hasn’t fought in close to three years but remains on the lips of top fighters.

The 35-year-old broke his leg during a trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

He claims he’s been fully fit for well over a year and is begging for a comeback date.

But no fight has been made, even after Notorious coached on The Ultimate Fighter across from Michael Chandler with a bout seemingly locked in.

UFC chief Dana White, though, has insisted there are two reasons behind this.

Topuria is the first ever Spanish champion in the UFCCredit: Getty

“First of all, he is coming back from one of the nastiest injuries you can come back from,” he told Kevin Iole.

“How long was Anderson Silva out when he did it? How long was Chris Weidman out when he did it? The guys who break that bone [are out for a long time], so that’s an issue right there, No. 1.

“No. 2 is, Conor McGregor doesn’t need the f****** money. So, when you don’t need the money, it’s not as easy. Khabib [Nurmagomedov] doesn’t need the money – Khabib retired.”