WATCH: Georgian old man goes WILD after store cashier reveals Ilia Topuria’s championship win at UFC 298

Ilia Topuria's knockout win over Alexander Violkanovski elated not just him, but the entire country of Georgia

WATCH: Georgian old man goes WILD after store cashier reveals Ilia Topuria’s championship win at UFC 298

Ilia Topuria's win over Alexander Violkanovski elated the entire coutry of Georgia (via X)

The relationship between fight fans and fighters is that of love and passion. Their victory makes the fans ecstatic, and their loss makes them depressed. A heartwarming video recently went viral. It showed an elderly Georgian man’s emotional reaction to compatriot Ilia Topuria winning the UFC championship. He fought against the reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski. The footage depicted a touching moment between a senior citizen customer and a store cashier in Georgia.

The video was originally posted to X, purportedly by the store owner. He said it was filmed right after Topuria’s title fight victory at UFC 298. It showed the cashier casually telling the customer that Topuria had become the new UFC champion. The old man’s face lit up, and he shouted excitedly and threw his arms up in jubilation. The old man said he went out quickly to buy what he needed and watch the fight. However, the fight ended in Round 2 via a knockout. He thanked God and also the cashier for this amazing news. 

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The old man’s animated celebration demonstrated how much Ilia Topuria’s achievement meant to Georgians nationwide. Topuria seems more beloved in Georgia than in his adopted home of Spain. The footage highlighted Topuria’s status as a national hero. Both he and Merab Dvalishvili won their respective fights at UFC 298.

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The viral clip showcased how MMA stardom could unite and inspire people of all ages. Topuria’s championship held a deep significance for the small nation of Georgia and elevated him to celebrity status. The man’s reaction encapsulated Georgians’ national pride in Topuria’s accomplishment.

Ilia Topuria won the featherweight gold after defeating Alexander Volkanovski

Spain’s Topuria pulled off a shocking upset on Saturday night and defeated Alexander Volkanovski by knockout. Topuria finished the fight with a devastating right hand just over two minutes into the second round at UFC 298. This has opened a new market for the UFC in Spain.

Ilia Topuria knocked out dominant champion Alexander Violkanovski 
Ilia Topuria knocked out dominant champion Alexander Violkanovski (via X)

Topuria came out aggressive in round two after a close first round. He hurt Volkanovski with a combination before landing the fateful right hand that floored the champion. The referee immediately stopped the fight and awarded the victory to Topuria. Topuria also called out Conor McGregor after the fight.

It was a monumental achievement for Topuria to become a UFC champion. He remains the youngest champion in the UFC at 27 years old. Topuria’s championship caps off a meteoric rise after just three years in the UFC. He entered the promotion in 2019 and reeled off six straight wins to earn the title shot. Now, the future appears extremely bright for the new champion. The Georgian-born fighter cemented himself as one of MMA’s top young fighters.

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