Topuria promised to knock Holloway out if he tries to recreate his UFC 300 moment at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.
Ilia Topuria is coming into his October 26th title bout against Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi with a chip on his shoulder. Since winning the featherweight belt off Alexander Volkanovski in February, he’s gotten tons of adulation from his adopted home country of Spain … but not so much love from the North American MMA community.
Fans on social media haven’t warmed up to “El Matador,” who has penned loquacious Instagrams to his own greatness and claimed Max Holloway was cowering in fear and refusing to sign a contract to fight. In a new interview with MMA Junkie, he stuck to that story, and to the idea that “Blessed” is going to lose quick and easy at UFC 308.”
“Yeah, it was a little bit difficult to get [Holloway] to sign the contract,” Topuria claimed. “But thanks to God, at the end of the day, we get his signature. We were supposed to fight, first of all, in the Sphere, then they move us to another card, then finally they put us in Abu Dhabi.”
“So I can’t wait. It’s a perfect place for me. It’s gonna be prime time here in Spain. It’s close from here also. There’s not a big difference in time. So yeah, everything is playing out good for me.”
When it comes to Max Holloway, Topuria is willing to respect his accomplishments but refuses to give him any chance when they step into the cage together.
“I respect Max Holloway, He’s been a great fighter,” Topuria said. “He gave us great fights. He seems to be a good person. I respect him. But I don’t know, I feel like I’m way better than him everywhere. Simple like that.”
“It’s gonna be a complete masterpiece. You will see. I will knock him out in the first round. There’s no doubts about that. It’s gonna be even much easier than with Volkanovski … He he beat the guy three times!”
Max Holloway is coming off a knockout of the year lock from his wild UFC 300 battle with Justin Gaethje. Ilia Topuria hopes “Blessed” pulls something similar where he points to the ground to stand and bang.
“If he’s going to bring the same energy he brings [at UFC 300], I’m going to knock him out in the first round,” Topuria declared. “Because in the moment he’s going to stop in the middle and start to exchange punches with me. I recommend him to use a helmet, because he’s going to need [it].”
“If he does it, even better for me. Maybe I’m going to point to the ground. Maybe I will do all that because I’m going to feel so comfortable in that fight because I’m telling you, every time I see him fight I’m like, ‘Everyone is going to be surprised when I knock him out,’ because I see him as like such an easy matchup for me.”
“If he thinks that I’m not right, prove me wrong,” Topuria finished. “We’re going to be in the same octagon October 26th. Prove me wrong.”