Ilia Topuria hinted that a change in moniker would accompany his move to a new weight class. Now that update has become a reality.
“‘El Matador’ has been my ally in every fight,” Topuria recently wrote on X. “But next time, I’ll step into the Octagon with a new identity.’”
During an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Topuria revealed that his new nickname will be “La Leyenda,” which translates to “The Legend” in English. Topuria was attending a ceremony in Toledo, Spain, where a street was named in his honor.
“‘El Matador’ is something that has accompanied me throughout my entire sporting career, throughout my entire trajectory, and it’s something that’s led me to the new nickname,” Topuria said.