Ilia Topuria He continues to climb the ladder in the UFC and is already very close to the top. The Georgian Hispanic has just defeated Josh Emmett, who was number 5 in the featherweight ranking. For the first time in his career, Ilia was part of the main event on a UFC card and there is no doubt that he took advantage of his opportunity.
In the post-fight press conference in Jacksonville, ‘El Matador’ discussed his priorities for the future and, as always, requested a ‘home’ event: “If they offer me to fight Max Holloway in Spain, let’s do it. If not, I’ll wait for my title shot.”. At UFC 290, on July 9, the champion Alexander Volkanovski will face Yair Rodrguez and after this fight the outlook will clear up.
In a subsequent intervention in the chain ESPNTopuria was asked to would respond “to all those who say it is not Spanish”. The fighter explained: “I feel super Spanish and I also feel Georgian. It’s like having two children. When they ask me, Georgia or Spain? You cannot choose between two children; you love them both equally. My parents come from Georgia, my blood is Georgian, but I have matured in Spain. I found my profession there, my passion; my family lives there, my son lives there, my house is in Spain, my friends also. I have an immense love for Spain and for Georgia, which is where my family comes from. Anyone who says anything about those two flags in front of me will pay for their words and their deeds.”.
ilia I was born in Germany, but settled in Georgia with his family when he was 7 years old. At 15 he settled in Alicante. The fact is that whoever has followed his career will already know that the Spanish flag has always accompanied him in all his combats. Or perhaps you remember, for example, his first words as soon as he grabbed a microphone after beating Bryce Mitchell in London: “I want the UFC to go to Spain.” Although he still has to answer questions like the one that was raised last Saturday, Topuria not only has Spanish nationality but he is one of those who makes his homeland.
