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Ilia Topuria | First UFC Champion From Spain & Georgia

History Was Made When Ilia Topuria Defeated Alexander Volkanovski At UFC 298

By Maddyn Johnstone-Thomas, on X @MaddynThomas • Oct. 23, 2024

It is always a special moment when an athlete becomes the first champion to hail from a country. History was made a few months ago at UFC 298, as Ilia Topuria became the first Georgian / Spanish champion after knocking out featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Since stepping onto the UFC scene in 2020, Topuria has always radiated confidence in himself and his ability to one day become world champion. His journey to the title was a quick, but impressive, one, as he picked up many highlight reel moments along the way, finally topping it off with the second-round knockout inside Honda Center earlier this year.