Watch: UFC Champion Ilia Topuria Meets Prime Minister, Becomes Spanish Citizen
Ilia Topuria has achieved yet another dream just weeks after he claimed the UFC featherweight belt at UFC 298.
“El Matador” joined the UFC in 2020 as an unbeaten talent and extended his record to 14-0 before he was given a title shot in the main event of UFC 298 against Alexander Volkanovski, who was attempting to defend his featherweight belt for a sixth time.
Topuria knocked out “The Great” in spectacular fashion to become UFC champion, and this week the 27-year-old brought his new belt to a meeting with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and was officially granted Spanish citizenship.
Born in West Germany to Georgian parents, Topuria moved to Spain as a teenager and has proudly represented both Spain and Georgia throughout his combat sports career.
Meeting the Prime Minister and earning his Spanish citizenship are both massive accomplishments that undoubtably hold a lot of meaning for the newly-crowned champion, and over the weekend Topuria also got to show off his belt at the legendary Santiago Bernabéu Stadium during a soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla.
Fans are eagerly waiting for news regarding who “El Matador” will face next, and although there are several candidates that could challenge for his featherweight title the 27-year-old has also suggested he’s interested in a massive fight against former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor.
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