PM meets first Georgian UFC World Champion
Topuria arrived in Georgia on Monday at the invitation of Kobakhidze, with the wrestler set to watch the Euro 2024 qualifying match between Georgia and Luxembourg from the stands at Dinamo Arena stadium in the city and showcase his championship belt as part of his presence for the football game on Thursday. Photo: Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday hosted Ilia Topuria, a Georgian mixed martial arts wrestler who last month became the first athlete from the country to earn the title of the UFC World Featherweight Champion.
Kobakhidze congratulated Topuria on winning the championship and noted the country and its citizens were “extremely proud” of his “significant” victory.
The PM also highlighted it was “important to maintain” the Georgian citizenship for the athlete after Topuria was also granted the Spanish passport by Pedro Sánchez, the President of Spain, last month.
The head of the Government said he would appeal to the country’s Ministry of Justice and President Salome Zourabichvili for the purpose.
Topuria arrived in Georgia on Monday at the invitation of Kobakhidze, with the wrestler set to watch the Euro 2024 qualifying match between Georgia and Luxembourg from the stands at Dinamo Arena stadium in the city and showcase his championship belt as part of his presence for the football game on Thursday.
The MMA wrestler last month knocked out his Australian rival Alexander Volkanovski in the second round of the main event of UFC 298 to become the new Featherweight World Champion.