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Photos – Ilia Topuria begins training camp ahead of UFC 307 title fight with Max Holloway in Utah

Ilia Topuria begins camp for UFC 307 title fight with Max Holloway in Utah Expected to make his return to the Octagon at the end of summer in Salt Lake City, undisputed featherweight…

Expected to make his return to the Octagon at the end of summer in Salt Lake City, undisputed featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria has begun his training camp for a title clash with Max Holloway – according to his physical therapist.

Topuria, the current undisputed featherweight champion, headlined UFC 298 back in February of this year, landed the divisional title with a devastating second round win over common-foe, Alexander Volkanovski – felling the Aussie with a brutal knockout win.

Joe Rogan claims Ilia Topuria turned down UFC 305 rematch with Alexander Volkanovski in Perth — Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports

As for Holloway, the former featherweight champion snatched the symbolic BMF championship on the main card of UFC 300 just months later, turning in a highlight-reel, buzzer-beating knockout win over Justin Gaethje in his return to the lightweight limit.

And planning a featherweight divisional drop amid his hellacious finish of former interim champion, Gaethje, Hawaiian star, Holloway is in line to take on unbeaten finisher, Topuria in October in the promotion’s yearly return to Utah – for a UFC 307 flagship card.

Ilia Topuria eyes biggest fight in history against Conor McGregor in UFC Spain debut — Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports

Ilia Topuria’s physical therapist confirms camp is underway for UFC 307

Beginning training camp as per his physical therapist, Fran Ortega – Spaniard force, Topuria will attempt to land his first successful defense of the featherweight throne later this annum.

“We start the training camp with the Matador @iliatopuia,” Ortega posted on his official Instagram account, accompanied by pictures of Ilia Topuria taking part in a medical check. “Assessment and measurement.”

Expected to make his return to 145lbs at the event in Salt Lake City, former divisional kingpin, Holloway’s most recent outing at the weight class saw him send veteran South Korean favorite, Chan Sung Jung into retirement with a brutal walk-off knockout at UFC Fight Night Singapore.

Prior to his wins over Gaethje and Jung with brutal striking, 32-year-old fan-favorite, Holloway would land an impressive unanimous decision win over then-streaking challenger, Arnold Allen in the main event of UFC Fight Night Kansas City in an impressive annum for the Honolulu native.

Who wins in a UFC 307 title clash: Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway?

Max Holloway tipped to chase champion Ilia Topuria in UFC return: ‘I think that fight is already made’

Off the back of his stunning knockout win at UFC 300, former featherweight champion, Max Holloway was touted as…

Off the back of his stunning knockout win at UFC 300, former featherweight champion, Max Holloway was touted as having his pick of the bunch of title fights in multiple divisions. And according to prior foe, Brian Ortega, the Hawaiian is already set up to challenge the unbeaten, Ilia Topuria next in a return to 145lbs.

Holloway, a former undisputed featherweight champion and current symbolic BMF championship holder, featured on the main card of UFC 300 earlier this month, felling Justin Gaethje with a spectacular buzzer-beating walk-off knockout in Las Vegas.

And as for Topuria, the Spaniard headlined UFC 298 back in February in Anaheim, landing the featherweight crown against common-opponent, Alexander Volkanovski – finishing the New South Wales technician with a brutal knockout win of his own.

Max Holloway tipped to face Ilia Topuria next

Touted to challenge the unbeaten finisher in his return to the featherweight limit, Holloway has been backed to have already nailed down a fight with Topuria by the above-mentioned, Ortega – who confirmed he would chase lightweight spoils after his fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 303 next weekend.

Ilia Topuria denies truning down rematch with Alexander Volkanovski in Australia the UFC never offered it — Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports

“I think that fight [Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway] is gonna be – I think that fight is already made,” Brian Ortega told SHAK MMA during a recent interview. “I heard that fight’s already made, let’s just say it that way. From what I heard – but I could be wrong – but I’m not usually wrong.”

Linked with a potential return at UFC 303 next weekend amid the exit of former opponent, Conor McGregor through a toe injury – Hawaiian star, Holloway reportedly turned down the bout as he remains on vacation.

The former featherweight champion was also the subject of what appears to be a cryptic call out from would-be event headliner, Michael Chandler – who staked his claim for a BMF title fight in the future.

Who wins in a future title outing: Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway?

Ilia Topuria mocks Conor McGregor amid toe injury, UFC 303 withdrawal: ‘You are mentally broken’

Undisputed featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria is the latest prominent voice to chime in on the injury-stricken, Conor McGregor –…

Undisputed featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria is the latest prominent voice to chime in on the injury-stricken, Conor McGregor – claiming the ex-champion is “mentally broken” amid his exit from a UFC 303 return fight next weekend.

Topuria, the current undisputed featherweight champion, headlined UFC 298 back in February against former pound-for-pound number one, Alexander Volkanovski landing a stunning second round KO win to snatch the divisional crown.

Conor McGregor vows to never lose another fight in the UFC amid injury setback toe — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

As for McGregor, the former two-weight champion withdraw from a scheduled welterweight return against Michael Chandler next weekend at UFC 303, suffering a fractured toe on his left foot – sidelining him for an expected period of two months.

Finding himself on the receiving end of criticizm from the likes of former champion, Rafael dos Anjos, as well as Chael Sonnen – and most notably Islam Makhachev – who labelled him a “chicken” in a fiery social media rant.

Ilia Topuria hits out at Conor McGregor

Adding to the list of fighters to hit out at the Dubliner, unbeaten featherweight star, Topuria claimed McGregor was “mentally broken” – before calling him a “b*tch” for withdrawing from UFC 303.

“You are mentally broken,” Ilia Topuria posted in response to Conor McGregor. “That is your biggest lesson. You doubt yourself, your abilities, your preparation, that’s why you don’t show up. You are a b*tch.”

You are mentally broken. That is your biggest lesson. You doubt yourself, your abilities, your preparation, that's why you don't show up. You are a bitch. https://t.co/1Uy9YaLSqK

— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) June 22, 2024

Expected to make his return potentially in the final quarter of this year, Spanish star, Topuria has been widely linked with a showdown with recently-minted symbolic BMF title fight against former undisputed featherweight kingpin, Max Holloway.

What are your thoughts on Ilia Topuria’s ripping of Conor McGregor?

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria awkwardly pays tribute to himself on Instagram

There is nobody Ilia Topuria loves more than himself. Even before strapping the 145-pound title around his waist in…

There is nobody Ilia Topuria loves more than himself.

Even before strapping the 145-pound title around his waist in February, ‘El Matador’ was singing his own praises and making some pretty big plans for the future. To be fair, Topuria has lived up to his self-induced hype, smashing former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski in the second round of their UFC 298 headliner while keeping his ‘O’ intact.

To celebrate all he’s accomplished, Topuria took to social media where he paid tribute to the person who has provided him with everything he has. … Himself.

“Today I want to express my gratitude to this person for providing me with everything I have, for supporting me to withstand any circumstance and for never losing faith in God and in the attraction of all good things to me,” Topuria wrote in a translated post. “Always relying on me and giving me the life I now enjoy. Today I want to thank myself for all the times I’ve respected myself, loved myself, forgiven myself.

“Long live the Matador that lives inside me! I will always be proud and with a smile on my face, remembering all that I have accomplished.”

Max Holloway Ready to add Ilia Topuria to his already impressive resume

Ilia Topuria’s first defense of the featherweight title has not yet been announced, but all signs currently point toward a September return against the promotion’s reigning BMF titleholder, Max Holloway.

In the eyes of many, Holloway was already the next man in line, but an insane buzzer-beating knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to claim the bragging rights belt seemingly pushed him over the edge.

Blessed’ is certainly no stranger to strapping gold around his waist, having already captured the interim and undisputed featherweight titles in addition to the BMF belt.

Along the way, Holloway has shared the Octagon with some of the best fighters in the history of the sport, including ‘The Korean Zombie’ Arnold Allen, Alexander Volkanovski, Frankie Edgar, Dustin Poirier, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo, Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis, and Charles Oliveira.

Will he add Ilia Topuria to his hit list in 2024?

Alexander Volkanovski claims his next fight will be for the featherweight title, eyes potential move to 155

Alexander Volkanovski insists his next fight will be for the featherweight title—but a return to lightweight is looking pretty…

Alexander Volkanovski insists his next fight will be for the featherweight title—but a return to lightweight is looking pretty good.

Volkanovski’s run in the featherweight division is among the greatest runs in all of mixed martial arts history. But as ‘The Great’ learned firsthand, all good things come to an end. After failing in back-to-back attempts to add a second belt to his collection, Volkanovski surrendered the 145-pound crown at UFC 298, suffering a brutal second-round knockout at the hands of Ilia Topuria.

Since then, Volkanovski has been content to sit on the sidelines, allowing himself to heal while his three-time opponent, Max Holloway, gears up for a title tilt with ‘El Matador’ later this year.

Speaking with ESPN Australia, ‘The Great’ revealed that his next fight inside the Octagon will offer him the opportunity to reclaim the featherweight title—but that doesn’t mean he won’t look to get a little action at lightweight first.

“My next fight at featherweight will be for the title,” Volkanovski said. “It’s just the time. Obviously, I wanted to wait. I don’t know what exactly are the plans. I haven’t been hounding the UFC, just sort of been taking it easy. So, I don’t know if they got plans. I know for a fact my next fight is for the title. Whether something happens before that, and if that’s the case, does that mean I’m waiting too long?

“That’s where I’m like, if that is the case, alright. Maybe if Dustin Poirier [wants to], that would be an incredible fight. Obviously, he’s a good dude with a lot of respect for each other. Big name, very, very fun fight. That’s something, and I just thought I’d put feelers out so you never know. Lightweight division looks good but my next featherweight fight is for the belt” (h/t MMA Mania).

Considering the laundry list of injuries Poirier sustained in his UFC 302 title fight against Islam Makahchev, Volkanovski could be waiting quite a while for a showcase with ‘The Diamond.’

Alexander Volkanovski awaits the winner of ilia topuria vs. max holloway

Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria appears to be on a collision course with Holloway, a former featherweight titleholder who recently claimed the promotion’s bragging rights belt—the BMF title— at UFC 300 in April. Following his insane buzzer-beating KO of Justin Gaethje, ‘Blessed’ called for a clash with Topuria. It looks like he’ll get his wish.

No official announcements have been made, but all signs point toward Topuria’s first defense of the featherweight strap going down at UFC 306 when Dana White and Co. head to Sphere in Las Vegas for an event unlike any other in combat sports history.

Volkanovski will likely find himself matched up with the winner sometime in 2025. Will it be a fourth meeting with Max Holloway, or will ‘The Great’ run it back with the No. 5 ranked P4P fighter in the world? Only time will tell.

Alexander Volkanovski vows to turn in ‘Real’ performance in rematch with Ilia Topuria: ‘Let’s see if he can handle that’

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski knows he wasn’t himself in his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria back in…

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski knows he wasn’t himself in his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria back in February.

Volkanovski was coming off a KO loss to Islam Makhachev for the lightweight belt as he was dropping back down to featherweight where he was the champ. Against Topuria, Volkanovski was timid and in the second round, Topuria landed a big shot that knocked him out.

With Alexander Volkanovski likely getting a rematch against Ilia Topuria in his next fight, in the rematch, he vows to be his real self and won’t be timid like he was in the first fight.

Islam Makhachev claims Alex Volkanovski returned too soon in KO loss to Islam Makhachev — Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports

“Ilia is a great fighter – let’s see because the next Volkanovski is going to turn up,” Alexander Volkanovski told The AllStar. “The real Volkanovski, I guarantee you that, and let’s see if Ilia can handle that. Again, I’m not taking anything away from him, I’m not saying he can’t. He’s obviously got heavy hands. He’s obviously got good skill, but I want him to be tested against the best version of myself or all the top guys and really prove himself…”

“You’re not going to see a timid Volk. You’re going to see a Volk that fights his fight,” Volkanovski said. “You want to be put in front of me and put yourself in a position to land bombs, be ready for one coming straight back at you.”

When the potential rematch would happen is uncertain, as Topuria could face Max Holloway next time out, as Volkanovski is taking time off to let his brain heal.

Alexander Volkanovski thinks Max Holloway could make Ilia Topuria fight look ‘easy’

Although Alexander Volkanovski will fight for the belt in his return, it may not be against Ilia Topuria.

Topuria could face Holloway next in his first title defense, and if that fight does happen, Volkanovski thinks Holloway wins and could make it look easy.

“I also believe Max can go out there and make that fight look easy. … I think Max wins that fight. Topuria is very dangerous, a great fighter. But I don’t think he’s as good as he thinks he is. And of course he caught me, right? So I can’t really say much. So I need to show everyone. I know I can do it, too. And I’m also quite confident Max can too, which is why I didn’t want him fighting Topuria before I did,” Volkanovski said to Fox Sports Australia.

If that does happen, however, it’s uncertain if Topuria would get an immediate rematch, or if Volkanovski will get his title shot next time out.