Topuria doesn’t think Max Holloway has the power to hurt him in their Abu Dhabi title fight like previous opponents. Famous last words?
Is Ilia Topuria underestimating Max Holloway coming into their featherweight title fight at UFC 308?
In a new interview with Spanish reporter Kolmenero, Topuria discussed how he expected the fight with Holloway would go and said he was more concerned about fighting Josh Emmett back in June 2023 than he is facing Holloway now.
“I won’t have to show any patience, because the fight will end much sooner than any people think,” Topuria said. “So there will be a very aggressive version of Ilia. Yes, you will see me super aggressive.”
“I don’t have any fears. I’m going to go in, I’m going to do what I like most. Specifically, I’m going to fight Max Holloway, a guy who is not very well known for doing a lot of damage. He doesn’t finish, he doesn’t have that knockout power.”
Ilia Topuria says Josh Emmett was a much more dangerous opponent than Max Holloway, and says we’re going to see a “very aggresive” version of himself at #UFC308
“There will be a very aggressive version of Ilia… I’m going to fight Max Holloway, a guy who is not very well… pic.twitter.com/sgKpIx4fNN
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 23, 2024
Tell that to Justin Gaethje, who Holloway flatlined a weightclass up. Tell that to Arnold Allen, who got beaten up so badly by “Blessed” that UFC CEO Dana White was afraid he’d keel over and die after the fight.
“For me personally, it was much more dangerous to be in front of a guy like Josh Emmett for 25 minutes,” Topuria continued. “You didn’t know which hand he could turn off your lights with. Because he had that power. Maybe he wasn’t as technical, but he did have that power.”
“On the other hand, I don’t feel that with Max Holloway. He’s a high volume fighter, he usually tires out his opponents, but that’s not going to be my case. I’m not prepared to fight 5 rounds, I’m prepared to fight 10. And if he wants, 15 and 20.”
Topuria is cocky and he has a right to be. He’s a perfect 15-0, 7-0 UFC and is coming off an impressive second round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski, who beat Max handily three times. That’s enough to make Ilia feel pretty good about his chances, and the bookies seem to agree: they have Topuria a -250 favorite over +200 dog Holloway.
UFC 308 goes down from Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. this Saturday afternoon, October 26th. Keep it locked to MMAMania.com for all the news and updates from this major card.