Featherweight champ Ilia Topuria meets Max Holloway soon at UFC 308. Topuria defends his 145 lbs gold against him in the PPV main event at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, later. The two have been going full force, asserting dominance and instigating mind pressures. Daniel Cormier thinks Topuria is starting to get under Max Holloway’s skin pretty well going forward.
In a pre-fight interview moderated by Brendan Fitzgerald (for @ESPNMMA), the pair went at it recently. The ever-cocky Ilia Topuria vowed to knock ‘Blessed’ out. The Alicante-Georgian even dared him to point and initiate at the first 10 seconds and find out what happens. Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, who has had quite many rivalries of his own, thinks Holloway was a bit agitated by it all.
Here’s for me why this worked: You got to see Max Holloway a little bit mad, …It felt like Ilia Topuria has now gotten to the point where Max doesn’t like him. He respected Max in his career path and the things that he did. I don’t know that now, he respects him in that way, and I think it’s very smart of Topuria not to hold that respect and have that for Max Holloway…
Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier via ‘ Good Guy / Bad Guy’ Podcast (@ESPNMMA) for ESPN2/ ESPNPodcenter
Topuria ran through Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett before dethroning Alexander Volkanovski by second-round KO at the UFC 298 PPV. Meanwhile, Holloway entered the title picture after his buzzer-beating KO to capture the BMF belt at the 155 lbs scene in April.
The Spaniard had been engaging in much hook and bait to irk Holloway in the build-up. Yet again, he even alluded to him being 0-3 against Volk at 145 during their moderated media availability. Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier believes the agitation shows; that’s saying something, given he and ‘Blessed’ are close buddies.
However, much like DC – “dad-energy” fighter Holloway could just be nonchalant and fed-up with it all! He said as much about the angry girlfriend-like long X-space banter. But Topuria is just itching to get his hands on him. The mind game went to a different level when Topuria mentioned their records.
Ilia Topuria boasts undefeated record to Max Holloway ahead of UFC 308
Boxers in UFC have had their signature successes throughout the years. Tom Aspinall’s charge-in and quick “1-2” tag wobbles almost anyone. Sean Strickland’s shell-up Philly and stomp puts even explosive fighters at a disadvantage, giving him more room. Those like Alexa Grasso, Petr Yan, Dustin Poirier, and Max Holloway work their signature swinging from pockets, which is the consensus best right now.
However, Ilia Topuria shatters those gradients with his enormous ‘three-piece’ combo that has downed even a former top UFC pound-for-pound. ‘El Matador’ is a different beast with his shot and speed, which he has also shown off in training. Max Holloway had warned him off from brawling with him at UFC 308 on October 26th. The undefeated Topuria is confident he is unlike anyone ‘Blessed’ has faced.
You already know how it feels to bounce back, …you already have seven professional defeats. I have zero. So, you’re going to do it once again really well, I don’t have any doubts about that… I don’t have any doubts that I will be the first one to knock you out…
Ilia Topuria in a pre-fight media availability round moderated by Brendan Fitzgerald (for @ESPNMMA)
Holloway enters this title opportunity on the back of a KOTY contender at UFC 300 when he violently slept Justin Gaethje. However, Topuria has been highly dismissive of it, saying he saw no technique throughout, especially in the last 10 seconds. Hence, he took it a step further, issuing a similar challenge.
Topuria has made some bold claims, saying Holloway would be an easy fight. He also said he’d beat Holloway and former champion Sean O’Malley on the same night. Come UFC 308, it remains to be seen if he can again bank on his words in his maiden defense of the gold.
