This Tuesday, Ilia Topuria was welcomed by the Mayor of Toledo, and a street in the city was named in his honor.
Since his victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, where he became the featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria has become a major star in the UFC.
Shortly after winning the title, ‘El Matador’ was granted Spanish citizenship by the Prime Minister of Spain, having moved to Alicante in 2012.
After becoming the featherweight champion and successfully defending his title, the 28-year-old continues to draw attention to the sport in Spain.
Ilia Topuria Announces New Fight Nickname at Press Conference
This Tuesday, Topuria met with the Mayor of Toledo as part of Toledo’s plan to become the European City of Sport in 2025.
During this meeting, it was announced that a street in the city would be named after him: ‘Paseo Ilia Topuria.’
“I am very happy to receive this honor in Toledo, a city that represents three cultures,” Topuria said at a press conference.
Topuria is entering a crucial phase of his career after giving up his featherweight title to move to the lightweight division permanently.
Before this new chapter, Topuria announced a ‘new identity’, stating he would no longer use the nickname ‘El Matador’ that brought him success.
Despite saying he would wait until his next fight to reveal his new nickname, he announced it during the press conference this Tuesday.
“El Matador has been with me throughout my sporting career, and it has led me to my new nickname.”
“As I always say, you need to believe first to see. I believe it first, and then I see it. So, the nickname for my next fights will be ‘La Leyenda’,” he revealed.
‘La Leyenda’ means ‘The Legend’, reflecting the 28-year-old’s ambition to make a lasting impact on the sport.
Ilia Topuria Criticized Ahead of Lightweight Division Move
After seeking a fight with the current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, Topuria’s move to 155lbs has been criticized by some in the sport.
Michael Chandler has called Topuria a liar, suggesting he is dishonest about his walking weight.
While fans are excited about a potential fight between Topuria and Makhachev, it is uncertain if the UFC will arrange this fight immediately.
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