A sight that many believed would never happen happened in the main event of UFC 308 pay-per-view (PPV). Max Holloway suffered his first MMA knockout against Ilia Topuria. After the bout, Holloway showed sheer class and spoke to the media about his fighting future. He hinted a full-time move to lightweight could be imminent. Question arises: how did the consensus hard chin featherweight and best boxer lose his bid?
Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) failed to recapture the featherweight title in Saturday’s headliner at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Topuria, though with challenges of his own, outboxed him up until a third-round knockout. On the latest Halloween edition of the ‘JAXXON’ Podcast, King Green asked co-hosts Rampage Jackson, Bear Degidio, Luke Rockhold, and T.J. Dillashaw about it. Former UFC Middleweight Champ Rockhold weighed in on what he thought went wrong.
He’s not moving, he really got comfortable, and because he believes his boxing is the best…but Topuria is different beast…for some he’s got…he’s got too much power. But he’s…look! Look at him he’s standing right in front of him he’s on this fight line he needs to be circling off circling away…
Luke Rockhold during the UFC 308 RECAP segment for ‘JAXXON’ Podcast (@jaxxonpodcast)
There are instances where this same gathering promotes engaging a fighter as a better option than winding down toward the fences. But Rockhold bills that this wasn’t it. He said Holloway faced his doom because of his belief that as one of the best boxers, he could handle Topuria. However, the Alicante-Georgian kept him in his line of sight and sliced him up.
It’s something even UFC 308 ESPN MMA post-fight desk analysts Dustin Poirier and others similarly lauded. Poirier and coach Din Thomas presented that ‘El Matador’ used his short height to stay low as a target and teed off in a straight line of sight. So whenever ‘Blessed’ came out swinging, shots would bounce off over the head or behind the arms as a whole. Topuria proved he is no one-hit wonder, and that might have earned him his next headlining spot in Spain.
Dana White, UFC ramp up push for Spain in 2025 in the wake of Ilia Topuria’s KO of Max Holloway
After Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), the UFC’s first champion from Spain, defended his 145-pound strap over ex-champ Max Holloway, more and more doors have opened up. Topuria is why the UFC’s visit to Spain is becoming increasingly important. Adding further credence to Topuria’s global star potential, Spanish football legend Sergio Ramos was on hand to support. The duo even imparted added significance when Topuria walked out with him after UFC 308 weigh-ins.
Georgian-born Topuria now calls Spain his home. It’s a country where football is more important than punching, but Real Madrid’s top players and brass have taken note of Ilia’s rise to the top of the UFC. Even with Barcelona trouncing Real Madrid 4-0, much of the populace didn’t choose ‘El Clasico’ but streamed Topuria instead.
Last year, the fighter took over host duties at Super Bowl LVIII Radio Row, Jack Slack Podcast 164, and received an ovation at the El Hormiguero Interview. He is also primed to sell out the jam-packed El Bernabéu stadium in a pay-per-view spot headlining event. UFC CEO Dana White said that when the UFC has superstars, the needle moves differently – especially in breaking into new segments. After UFC 308, Topuria fits the bill evermore.
But Holloway never fought in Hawaii. The Three Kings never fought in Africa. Other than brief stints at the 3Arena, Conor McGregor never got his Irish stadium show. However, White says Topuria reinstigated the thoughts of UFC Spain yet again with his feat. While there are troubles taking the grind to a stadium setting, he says they’ll definitely do it. Selling out an 80,000 home turf crowd is a PPV spotlight win-win scenario, which still isn’t on the menu.
