For any athlete, representing their homeland is a major deal. It’s not just about their culture and roots; it’s also about the pride that comes with representing their community. In the UFC, it’s not just about American fighters; athletes from all over the globe, from Russia to Zimbabwe, have the chance to compete in the biggest promotion if they have the talent. Speaking of which, there’s been a lot of confusion surrounding the ethnicity and background of Ilia Topuria. Here’s the answer to it.
Given that he proudly waves both the Georgian and Spanish flags and carries the nickname “El Matador,” questions about Ilia Topuria’s roots naturally arise. To clarify, although Topuria often represents both countries in his UFC career, he was actually born in Halle Westfalen, Germany. His parents are Georgian, and he moved to Germany when he was just seven years old.
Subsequently, Topuria began his combat sports journey in Germany, training in Greco-Roman wrestling while in school. When he was 15, he made yet another important move to Alicante, Spain, where he started his professional MMA career under the coaching of Jorge Clement who changed his life upside down.
Thanks to his coaching, he began competing in various Spanish organizations, which ultimately led him to become the UFC star he is today.
Does Ilia Topuria Have Spanish Citizenship?
Soon after, Topuria claimed the featherweight title by defeating Alexander Volkanovski, proudly becoming the first-ever Georgian-Spanish champion. He earned citizenship shortly after meeting with Pedro Sanchez, the President of the Government. Following numerous requests, the Council of Ministers approved his citizenship application after he put the Spanish flag on the UFC map.
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Topuria isn’t the only fighter representing two countries; Khamzat Chimaev, Merab Dvalishvili, and many others also embody this duality. These athletes often represent the countries they were born in while training and competing in different nations. As a result, they consider themselves a blend of both cultures and nations.
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