The banter between Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria continues to heat up in the wake of UFC 300 this past weekend (April 13, 2024).
A third Baddest Motherf—ker (BMF) champion was crowned at the historic event after Holloway waged war with the now-former titleholder, Justin Gaethje. A legendary fifth round knockout in the final second of the bout spelled the end for Gaethje (watch highlights), setting the “Blessed” former Featherweight champion up for essentially whatever he wants next.
Holloway, 32, told Jim Rome that a showdown with the current 145-pound kingpin, Ilia Topuria, “was always my main goal” despite the myriad of options a win has presented him with. Topuria has noted since the win that he’s ready for and expects Holloway to be the first title defense of his championship reign. However, he recently demanded that Holloway’s BMF title is also on the line, otherwise, he can kick rocks.
“That’s not a very BMF way to say it,” Holloway responded to Topuria’s comments (h/t MMA Fighting). “A BMF wouldn’t say, ‘I’m not going to fight this guy unless …’ That’s kind of un-BMF. Doesn’t sound BMF the way he’s trying to demand it and saying, ‘I’m not going to fight.’
“A BMF fights whatever, fights whoever, whenever, any weight, any time, and that’s not a tone of a BMF,” he concluded.
Between Holloway and Topuria, they have one similar opponent: Alexander Volkanovski. “The Great” began his title reign when he ended Holloway’s in December 2019. Since then, he’s defeated Holloway twice, bringing his lead over “Blessed” to 3-0, defending his crown five times overall before Topuria knocked him out in round two of their UFC 298 clash this past February 2024 (watch highlights).
“He beat a guy I couldn’t figure out,” Holloway said. “He fought the guy once, I fought the guy three times, and I saw him say that slick stuff took him nine minutes for what took me 90 minutes and I couldn’t do it. Something crazy like that.
“That’s funny,” he continued. “Last time I checked, when I was your age, I already had title defenses, buddy. So it looks like you’ve still got some catching up to do.”