Tag: Max Holloway

Max Holloway Reveals Post-Fight Exchange with Ilia Topuria, Shares Thoughts on ‘El Matador’s’ Trash Talk

Max Holloway Reveals Post-Fight Exchange with Ilia Topuria, Shares Thoughts on 'El Matador's' Trash TalkLeading into UFC 308, ‘El Matador’ Ilia Topuria shared some trash talk against ‘Blessed’ Max Holloway. Once the cage…

Max Holloway Reveals Post-Fight Exchange with Ilia Topuria, Shares Thoughts on 'El Matador's' Trash Talk

Leading into UFC 308, ‘El Matador’ Ilia Topuria shared some trash talk against ‘Blessed’ Max Holloway. Once the cage door locked, the Georgian-Spanish athlete was able to earn a knockout win against the former champion to defend his title. Afterward, the two exchanged some discussion in the center of the octagon.

Max Holloway Reveals Post-Fight Chat with Ilia Topuria

After getting knocked out, ‘Blessed’ took some time to speak to the media in spite of his championship loss. The Hawaiian athlete holds the record for most significant strikes landed in UFC history, but was unable to out-strike the highly dangerous Ilia Topuria. ‘El Matador‘ now has knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, two pound-for-pound greats.

Speaking to the media, Max Holloways revealed what was said in their post-fight exchange. He said:

“I just told him congrats. You know, he was telling me I’m a legend. You know, all that talk that he does I think he just does it for you guys, you know. He seems like a really good — cool guy. So at the end of the day, he’s being nice, you know, telling me I was a legend, telling me he watched my career coming up, and he takes a lot of inspiration, him and his brother. His brother is nice and cool.”

On the trash talk, Holloway understood. He added:

“So it is what it is, you know. It’s a media game. That’s the way he wants to play it. That’s the way he plays it. But behind the scenes, he’s a cool guy.”

Max Holloway Reveals Post-Fight Exchange with Ilia Topuria, Shares Thoughts on 'El Matador's' Trash Talk
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Coming off of the first knockout loss of his career it would be prudent for Holloway to take some time off from the sport and return after a hiatus, which will likely see him move up a weight class to 155. Ilia Topuria has also expressed interest in moving up a weight division to try and become a double champ in the UFC.

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 26: Ilia Topuria of Spain reacts after a knockout victory against Max Holloway in the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Joe Rogan and Crew React Live to Ilia Topuria’s KO of Max Holloway at UFC 308: ‘Bro, that guy is so legit.’

Joe Rogan, Ilia TopuriaUFC commentator Joe Rogan and his fight companions went berzerk watching Ilia Topuria knock out Max Holloway in the…

Joe Rogan, Ilia Topuria

UFC commentator Joe Rogan and his fight companions went berzerk watching Ilia Topuria knock out Max Holloway in the UFC 308 main event.

Topuria shocked the world by becoming the first fighter to knock out Holloway at UFC 308 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. The UFC featherweight champion backed up his pre-fight taunts with actions, as he collapsed Holloway in Round 3.

Rogan, a longtime UFC analyst and fight fan has praised Topuria’s potential for months, dating back to before Topuria won the UFC belt. Topuria’s title win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 cemented some of Rogan’s assessments of his fighting skillset.

Many believed Topuria had what it took to defeat Holloway at UFC 308, but few felt he’d deliver on his pre-fight knockout prediction. Rogan was stunned when Topuria did what he promised he’d do to Holloway inside the Octagon.

Joe Rogan goes wild as Ilia Topuria flattens Max Holloway

Check out Rogan’s live reaction to Topuria’s history-making knockout in the clip below.

Rogan went on to assess whether or not Holloway’s featherweight days were done after the loss to Topuria. Holloway seemed to confirm a permanent move up to lightweight during his post-fight press conference remarks.

Topuria remains undefeated in his MMA career after the win over Holloway. Before winning the title against Volkanovski, Topuria defeated the likes of Josh Emmett, Bryce Mitchell, and Jai Herbert.

Topuria is a blossoming international superstar, especially after UFC 308. He’s targeting a return to the Octagon next year for the UFC’s potential debut event in Spain.

Video: Ilia Topuria Says ‘F–k’ Conor McGregor for UFC 308 Criticism Post-Holloway KO

Ilia Topuria, fresh off of knocking out Max Holloway at Saturday’s UFC 308, didn’t take kindly to the since-deleted criticisms leveled at him on social media…

Ilia Topuria, fresh off of knocking out Max Holloway at Saturday’s UFC 308, didn’t take kindly to the since-deleted criticisms leveled at him on social media…

UFC 306: Ilia Topuria is the Next Star in the Making After Destroying Max Holloway

In the end, Ilia Topuria did exactly what he said he’d do. The featherweight champion was back in action in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 308 card in Abu…

In the end, Ilia Topuria did exactly what he said he’d do. The featherweight champion was back in action in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 308 card in Abu…

‘Scariest 145er Of All Time’ – Fans, Fighters React As Ilia Topuria Becomes First To KO Max Holloway At UFC 308

Ilia Topuria may have picked up more believers and fans with his successful title defense against Max Holloway in a wild fight that saw the champion become the first man in MMA history to knock out “Blessed.” After Holloway refused his offer to throw down in the center of the Octagon right away, Topuria managed […]

Continue Reading ‘Scariest 145er Of All Time’ – Fans, Fighters React As Ilia Topuria Becomes First To KO Max Holloway At UFC 308 at MMA News.

Ilia Topuria may have picked up more believers and fans with his successful title defense against Max Holloway in a wild fight that saw the champion become the first man in MMA history to knock out “Blessed.”

After Holloway refused his offer to throw down in the center of the Octagon right away, Topuria managed to be patient and connected on several key combinations that busted up the former champ’s nose.

“El Matador” also scored a pair of takedowns on Holloway in the first five minutes and landed a number of leg kicks. “Blessed,” however, brought out his usual volume and found his groove late in the round, forming a mousse around one of Topuria’s eyes — in addition to leg kicks of his own.

The Spaniard continued to bring his power punching in the second round, looking to get inside, while Holloway looked to keep his distance and catch the reigning titleholder coming in.

Topuria, however, brought things to an end in the third round with a cracking right hand that rocked Holloway. While the 32-year-old legend got away from the first flurry, he was dropped by a left hook in the second round before some ground-and-pounded finished the fight.

Ilia Topuria Scores Third-Round KO Of Max Holloway To Cap Off UFC 308

Topuria was 8-0 in the UFC and 15-0 in MMA entering tonight’s bout. This was his first fight as UFC featherweight champion after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February.

Holloway, meanwhile, became interim UFC featherweight champion at UFC 206 with a win over Anthony Pettis before defeating José Aldo at UFC 212 to become undisputed champion. He defended the title successfully against Aldo, Brian Ortega, and Frankie Edgar. “Blessed” lost the title at UFC 245 to Alexander Volkanovski, with the Australian being the only one at 145 pounds to defeat Holloway since his five-year unbeaten streak between 2014 and 2019.

The Hawaiian had won his last three fights and five of his last six, including his last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 earlier this year to win the BMF title.

Continue Reading ‘Scariest 145er Of All Time’ – Fans, Fighters React As Ilia Topuria Becomes First To KO Max Holloway At UFC 308 at MMA News.

Ilia Topuria KOs ‘Blessed’ with Brutal Left Hook in the Third to Retain Fetherweight Title – UFC 308 Highlights

Ilia Topuria KOs 'Blessed' with Brutal Left Hook in the Third to Retain Fetherweight Title - UFC 308 HighlightsIlia Topuria became the first man to knock out BMF titleholder Max Holloway in his mixed martial arts career….

Ilia Topuria KOs 'Blessed' with Brutal Left Hook in the Third to Retain Fetherweight Title - UFC 308 Highlights

Ilia Topuria became the first man to knock out BMF titleholder Max Holloway in his mixed martial arts career.

Returning to Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi for UFC 308, ‘El Matador’ delivered another highlight-reel performance in his first defense of the featherweight world title, dispatching ‘Blessed’ in the third round via a combination of strikes punctuated by a vicious left hook that sent Holloway crashing to the canvas.

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A few ground-and-pound strikes later, referee Marc Goddard had seen enough and called for the stoppage just past the 90-minute mark of the round.

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Official Result: Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway via TKO (left hook to ground and pound) at 1:34 of Round 3.

With the win, Topuria moved to 16-0, keeping both his ‘O’ and his 145-pound title intact.

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Check out Highlights From Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway at UFC 308: