What were the big takeaways from UFC 308 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi? If there is anything at all—it’s that it is time to put serious stock into Ilia Topuria. ‘El Matador’ promised and channeled his own bull at the UFC 308 top bill. To quote bossman and UFC CEO Dana White, “If you didn’t, now you know.” The guy he said it about, Sean O’Malley, gives his take on the win. Weirdly though, he bills Topuria as an Alex Pereira mini-me!
Topuria backed up all his talk prior to UFC 308 like pure manifestation, again. He entered the foray and became the first man to knock out Max Holloway. Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who won the belt from Alexander Volkanovski in February, defended it for the first time. His third-round KO and the sequence leading up to it remind O’Malley about how light-heavyweight Alex Pereira sets up his linear knockouts against the cage.
Holy sh*t! Ilia is that guy…Wowwww…Bro, Ilia’s just so dangerous the whole fight. He’s like a little fu*king Alex Pereira! God, Ilia’s got a sick style. As much as I talk shit about him, whatever, but he’s got such a…style. He..he, …he’s dangerous, everywhere.
Sean O’Malley via his Official YT channel (@SugaSeanUFC)
Topuria has already put himself on the map at just 27 years old. Topuria’s six-fight UFC featherweight win streak ties for the longest active streak in the division. He has won 14 of his 16 career fights. Even other consensus boxers are in awe of him utilizing his markers to get it done at the UFC 308 PPV. O’Malley has squabbled with him before, but he can’t just not laud the stylistic feat.
Sean O’Malley reacts to Ilia Topuria’s knockout at #UFC308
“Ilia’s just so dangerous the whole fight. He’s like a little f***ing Alex Pereira.”
🎥 YT / @SugaSeanMMA #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/n7IdsZYHCO
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 27, 2024
O’Malley, like many others, was hoping for Holloway to wind up more in later rounds, outboxing him. But Topuria closed the distance in a blitz, as he usually does. ‘Suga Show’ is all praise for that. Further down the road, there might still be some pound-for-pound hashing and banter between them. But for now, ‘El Matador’ is that guy.
Will Ilia Topuria be the Fighter of the Year in 2024?
There have been some competitive races for the Fighter of the Year award over the past decade. None, however, have approached the level of Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira in 2024. Just a few weeks ago, many were arguing that Alex “Poatan” Pereira was a lock to win this award. He completed a record-breaking third consecutive UFC title defense in 175 days. Pereira was also part of the historic UFC 300 PPV.
The Brazilian is the #2 Official top pound-for-pound in UFC Athlete listings. He is also No. 1 in the latest unofficial Sportsnet/USA TODAY Sports/SBNation Network and other outlets, as well as the most globally searched pound-for-pound fighter in some. Despite favela origins, the fighter from Connecticut is now a top PPV spotlight on ESPN platforms. His non-domestic following is something Ilia Topuria shares as well.
The Alicante-Georgian from Germany has the backing of nations behind him. When he won gold at UFC 298 PPV, mobs rallied behind his cause. Topuria took over Super Bowl LVIII Radio Row, Jack Slack Podcast 164, and received an ovation at the El Hormiguero Interview. After UFC 308, he is the prime candidate for a UFC Spain top bill at El Bernabéu.
Had it been any other way for Topuria to win, Alex Pereira would undoubtedly have been the man. But he got the ideal result when he flattened Holloway. Pereira has his wrestling holes, whereas Topuria is an all-around star who finished two former perennial 145lbers. Pereira’s shock KOs at UFC 300 and 303 can make anyone a prisoner of the moment. But overall, Topuria makes a strong case for being the best.
