Ilia Topuria posted a public message celebrating the Día de la Hispanidad on Monday, October 12, stating that Spain is a country that has given him much and one to which he will always be grateful, abc.es reported.
Social Media Message on Día de la Hispanidad
Topuria used his official social media channels on October 12 to publish his thoughts on Spain’s national day. According to abc.es, the fighter wrote, Feliz Día de la Hispanidad. España es un país que me ha dado mucho, y al que siempre le estaré agradecido
. Marca.com corroborated the statement, noting that the message from the fighter known as ‘El Matador’ was issued during his current trip to his parents’ homeland of Georgia.
Career Roots in Spain After Moving at Age 15
Born in Halle, Germany, to parents who had fled armed conflicts with Russia, Topuria spent his early years training in Greco-Roman wrestling in Georgia. When he was 15 years old, his family relocated to Alicante, Spain, under a family reunification program. Marca.com notes that his athletic evolution took place entirely in Spain, where he transitioned from Greco-Roman wrestling to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Climent Club alongside his brother Aleksandre Topuria, eventually building a 17-1 professional mixed martial arts record.
Training in Georgia Ahead of Brother’s Bout in Qatar
Topuria is currently spending several weeks in Georgia, where he has resumed contact training sessions following his defeat against Justin Gaethje at UFC Casa Blanca, according to abc.es and marca.com. From Georgia, Topuria is expected to travel to Doha, Qatar, to corner his brother Aleksandre Topuria (7-2), who is scheduled to face Mexico’s Santiago Luna on November 21 in search of his third UFC victory, marca.com reported. Industry timelines place Ilia Topuria’s own return to the UFC cage between April and July of 2027.
Worth a look
