Tag: Max Holloway

UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria wants to emphatically establish superiority over Max Holloway next weekend in Abu Dhabi.

The importance of following up a title win with a successful defense is often a major part of the lead-up to a new champ’s first attempt at batting away a challenger.

For some, that pressure might show. In that regard, Topuria is not ‘some’.

“El Matador” has been his usual confident self ahead of his upcoming pay-per-view main event opposite Max Holloway at UFC 308 on Oct. 26. That’s perhaps not a surprise given how he backed up his pre-fight talk with a destructive knockout of Alexander Volkanovski.

But based on the predictions he made during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Topuria could have a tougher time living up to his remarks come fight night at Etihad Arena.

The Georgian-Spaniard has long expressed his belief that “Blessed” won’t escape Abu Dhabi without the first knockout loss of his career being added to his record.

Now, Topuria is even shooting for Jorge Masvidal’s fastest-KO record, which came when he slept Ben Askren with a knee just five seconds into their showdown at UFC 239 in 2019.

“There is no chance for Max. Forget about it. The only thing I’m praying for every day is I want him to show up, because I’m going to do the rest,” Topuria said. “We already know who is the world champion. We’re going to find out that I am the BMF also.

“I will be there in the middle of the Octagon in the first 10 seconds. … I want to have the fastest knockout in UFC history also, with my hands,” Topuria continued. “Jorge has it with the knee, I want to do it with the hands. … If he stays in the middle in the first 10 seconds of the fight, we’re going to see the fastest knockout in UFC history.”

Though not set to be officially on the line, talk of Holloway’s symbolic BMF title has been prominent in the build-up to next weekend’s PPV headliner.

Should he deliver on his promise to offer a stand-and-bang scenario to “Blessed” à la UFC 300 and emerge from such an exchange with his hand raised, perhaps the masses will get behind “El Matador” and his replica BMF belt.

• Read More: Ilia Topuria Tells Fighters Picking Max Holloway To Stop In-Person Niceties: ‘F*ck Them All!’

Continue Reading Ilia Topuria Eyes Record Held By Jorge Masvidal At UFC 308 at MMA News.

Ilia Topuria recently doubled down on his intention to challenge Max Holloway in a striking battle from the opening bell of their highly anticipated clash at UFC 308. “El Matador” is poised to defend his UFC featherweight title for the first time against Holloway on October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Last week, Topuria and Holloway engaged in a fiery interview with ESPN, during which the reigning 145-pound champion donned a replica of the BMF title on his shoulder. He boldly dared “Blessed” to bring the same ferocity he displayed in landing the buzzer-beater knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in the first 10 seconds of their upcoming showdown.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by UFC (@ufc)

During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, “El Matador” underscored his desire to entice the reigning BMF titleholder to a fierce exchange of punches right in the center of the Octagon within the first 10 seconds of their bout at UFC 308. The undefeated Spaniard confidently asserted that he would deliver the most electrifying initial moments of any fight in UFC history.

“He calls himself the BMF, but we already know who’s the world champion. In the first 10 seconds of the fight, we’re going to find out who’s the real BMF because I already challenged him. In the first 10 seconds, I’m gonna point to the ground, and we’ll see what he’s going to do.

I will be in the middle of the Octagon, so let’s bang, bro. If you’re ready, I was born ready… First 10 seconds, I’m gonna point to the middle of the Octagon, and I will stay there. I wanna give the best and most exciting 10 seconds in UFC history to the fans.”

Topuria went on to voice some doubt about whether “Blessed” would accept his challenge to trade blows right off the bat but remained unwavering in his belief in his knockout power. He confidently stated that if Holloway chooses to stand and bang with him, it’s only a matter of time before he puts him to sleep.

“If he stays in the middle, I’m gonna knock him out, I’m gonna take his head off. I have prepared myself for that too… I don’t know, we’ll see. He’s calling himself the BMF, that’s one of the things we’ll find out—if he’s the BMF or if he’s the p*ssy like everyone who is predicting that I’m going to lose to Max Holloway.”

You can watch his comments here:

Continue Reading Topuria Reaffirms Plans To ‘Point The Octagon’ In First 10 Seconds Against Holloway At UFC 308 at MMA News.

UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria believes predictions for his upcoming title defense have helped him identify plenty of “snakes in the grass.”

Eight months on from his memorable crowning in Anaheim at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski, Topuria will put his newly won gold on the line against another legend of the division.

Headlining next weekend’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, “El Matador” will share the cage with former featherweight kingpin and current holder of the symbolic BMF title, Max Holloway.

The bout is among the most highly anticipated of the year thus far, and the recent success of both men have left a variety of predictions flying around the MMA community.

Topuria, however, has frequently insisted that “Blessed” will be light work for him come fight night. And with that in mind, he’s bemused by the number of UFC peers picking against him for the Oct. 26 event.

And during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Topuria took a moment to address those doubting the continuation of his reign.

While he didn’t name names, the Georgian-Spanish champ suggested a number of those predicting a return to the throne for Holloway have previously interacted with him in-person.

Having seen their picks, though, Topuria has no plans to repeat that post-UFC 308…

“I’ve watched the predictions of all the UFC fighters. They are predicting that he is going to beat me,” Topuria said. “All the bums, f*ck you everyone. After I knock him out, don’t even tell me, ‘Hello,’ if you see me around. F*ck yourself everyone.

“Many, many fighters (are picking against me). I don’t even want to tell you the names because I don’t want to give importance about them. F*ck them all,” Topuria continued. “I’m taking notes. They are all like snakes in the grass. They see you around and then they are acting like fans. But when they have to do something, ‘No, Max is going to beat him.’ Maybe they feel a little bit of envy.”

Topuria continues to speak confidently when it comes to his first title defense, promising that Holloway won’t see a second round in Abu Dhabi later this month.

Pressure will certainly be on him to deliver. But should “El Matador” do so, his journey toward top spot in 145-pound history would certainly be off to a strong start, and perhaps a desired lightweight move to challenge Islam Makhachev could await.

• Read More: Max Holloway States Where Beating Ilia Topuria Would Rank Amongst His Biggest Achievements

Continue Reading Ilia Topuria Tells Fighters Picking Max Holloway To Stop In-Person Niceties: ‘F*ck Them All!’ at MMA News.

UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria believes predictions for his upcoming title defense have helped him identify plenty of “snakes in the grass.”

Eight months on from his memorable crowning in Anaheim at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski, Topuria will put his newly won gold on the line against another legend of the division.

Headlining next weekend’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, “El Matador” will share the cage with former featherweight kingpin and current holder of the symbolic BMF title, Max Holloway.

The bout is among the most highly anticipated of the year thus far, and the recent success of both men have left a variety of predictions flying around the MMA community.

Topuria, however, has frequently insisted that “Blessed” will be light work for him come fight night. And with that in mind, he’s bemused by the number of UFC peers picking against him for the Oct. 26 event.

And during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Topuria took a moment to address those doubting the continuation of his reign.

While he didn’t name names, the Georgian-Spanish champ suggested a number of those predicting a return to the throne for Holloway have previously interacted with him in-person.

Having seen their picks, though, Topuria has no plans to repeat that post-UFC 308…

“I’ve watched the predictions of all the UFC fighters. They are predicting that he is going to beat me,” Topuria said. “All the bums, f*ck you everyone. After I knock him out, don’t even tell me, ‘Hello,’ if you see me around. F*ck yourself everyone.

“Many, many fighters (are picking against me). I don’t even want to tell you the names because I don’t want to give importance about them. F*ck them all,” Topuria continued. “I’m taking notes. They are all like snakes in the grass. They see you around and then they are acting like fans. But when they have to do something, ‘No, Max is going to beat him.’ Maybe they feel a little bit of envy.”

Topuria continues to speak confidently when it comes to his first title defense, promising that Holloway won’t see a second round in Abu Dhabi later this month.

Pressure will certainly be on him to deliver. But should “El Matador” do so, his journey toward top spot in 145-pound history would certainly be off to a strong start, and perhaps a desired lightweight move to challenge Islam Makhachev could await.

• Read More: Max Holloway States Where Beating Ilia Topuria Would Rank Amongst His Biggest Achievements

Continue Reading Ilia Topuria Tells Fighters Picking Max Holloway To Stop In-Person Niceties: ‘F*ck Them All!’ at MMA News.