Its legend Ilya Topuria It never stops growing. His recent victory over American Max Holloway crowned him as the undisputed king of the UFC in the featherweight division and allowed him to keep the belt that recognizes this achievement which he achieved for the second time in the same year. Not only did his fight go around the world, but so did he spontaneously plant a kiss on the head of Juan Carlos I, who supported him a few meters from the Octagon at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena. He spoke of that impressive gesture to the former king for the first time during his visit The Anthill.
© Elantiguero“The truth is it was such an emotional moment… Before going into battle they told me, ‘Look, there’s a king, there’s a protocol, you have to address him as his majesty.’ I told him if I could give him a kiss he did that to me (I think he thought, this crazy guy gives me a kiss where he shouldn’t). Here’s the mess..”, he said. Remembering the anecdote with humor. In addition to Don Juan Carlos, Felipe de Marichaler, Sergio Ramos, Omar Montes, Marta Diaz, Laura Escanes and Violeta Mangrinan were also present in this fight.
In the moments when he knocked out his opponent, Topuria assures that he cannot explain the immense happiness he felt. “I can never find the words to describe it because you can’t describe the happiness you feel. It’s something incomparable,” he admits. It’s a reward for effort, work and an unbeatable 2024 finishing touch in all aspects. And in addition to carving his name into sporting gold, in July he welcomed his first daughter with businesswoman and influencer Georgina Uzcategui (he already fathered a child from a previous relationship).
Ilya Topuria aims to inspire the new generation and show that there are no limits and barriers are there to break down. “As a child I was not talented at all and I was always constipated and skinny. No one could have imagined that I would become a world champion,” he admits. He started training with his brother, who always won, and his family felt so sorry for him that they always offered to sign him up for other things, like piano lessons. But he never gave up as he started “dreaming big” since sports entered his life.
© ElantigueroHe remembers that the first turning point happened thanks to his father. And they both began to imagine that Ilya would go far. “He told me he was going to revolutionize the sport. He made me believe in myself and that’s a very valuable thing,” he admitted. Those dreams have not only come true, they have exceeded all limits. Now he faces each round with great discipline, a rigorous study of his opponents and a motto with which he makes it clear that nothing is impossible for him: “If anyone does it, I will do it; and if anyone doesn’t. I’ve done it, I’ll be the first.”
