Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia will award Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria, who brought the first UFC championship title to the country, a prize of one million GEL each.

Kobakhidze emphasized the importance of recognizing sports achievements and their contribution to national pride.

“Georgian athletes are achieving unprecedented success across various sports, with Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC championship win being a notable example. Today, two of the eight active UFC champions are Georgians, showcasing the fighting spirit inherent to our culture. With a population of just four million, our achievements rival countries like Brazil, which has 200 million residents.

Ilia Topuria and Merab Dvalishvili exemplify the centuries-old fighting spirit of the Georgian people, reminding us that with dignity in competition, we stand undefeated.

Such success deserves proper recognition. Therefore, we are awarding each fighter one million GEL. We wish Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria continued victories, and we are confident that Ilia will defend his title successfully on October 26,” the Prime Minister stated.