This Tuesday, the city of Toledo recognized Ilia Topuria by naming a street in his honor during a ceremony with the Mayor.
Since his impressive victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, where he secured the featherweight title, Ilia Topuria has become a prominent figure in the UFC.
Following his championship win, Topuria, known as ‘El Matador’ until recently, was granted Spanish citizenship by the Prime Minister of Spain, having resided in Alicante since 2012.
The 28-year-old fighter has significantly boosted the popularity of MMA in Spain since becoming the featherweight champion, a title he defended against Max Holloway at UFC 308.
Ilia Topuria Introduces New Fight Nickname
Topuria`s meeting with the Mayor of Toledo was part of Toledo`s initiative to be recognized as the European City of Sport in 2025.
During this event, the city announced that a street would be named ‘Paseo Ilia Topuria’ in his honor.
“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition in Toledo, a city that embraces diversity,” Topuria stated at a press conference.
As Topuria transitions to the lightweight division, a significant phase in his career begins. He recently relinquished his featherweight title to compete at 155lbs.
Marking this new chapter, Topuria announced a change in his identity, retiring the ‘El Matador’ nickname that has been synonymous with his career.
Despite initially planning to reveal his new nickname later, Topuria shared it during Tuesday`s press conference.
“‘El Matador’ has been with me throughout my journey, leading me to my new identity,” Topuria explained.
“It’s about believing to see. I believe first, and then I see it. My new nickname for my upcoming fights will be ‘La Leyenda’,” he declared.
‘La Leyenda’, meaning ‘The Legend’, reflects the 28-year-old’s ambition to solidify his legacy in the sport.
Lightweight Division Beckons for Ilia Topuria
Topuria`s move to the lightweight division and his pursuit of a fight with current champion Islam Makhachev has drawn mixed reactions from figures within MMA.
Michael Chandler has voiced skepticism about Topuria`s weight, suggesting he may not be as heavy as he claims.
The potential matchup between Topuria and Makhachev is highly anticipated by fans, but it remains to be seen if the UFC will schedule this fight next.
