The tension between Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria is growing ahead of an inevitable featherweight title fight.
At UFC 300, Holloway made history by knocking out Justin Gaethje for the BMF title with one second left. Shortly after getting his hand raised, ‘Blessed’ joined Joe Rogan for a post-fight interview in the Octagon, where he called out recently-crowned 145-pound world champion Topuria.
Following his legendary performance, Holloway has several potential options for his return later this year, including a lightweight/featherweight title shot or a BMF title defense. During his post-fight press conference, ‘Blessed’ had this to say about what’s next:
“I got options man. It feels great. Dana [White] is happy, Hunter [Campbell] is happy, Sean Shelby is happy. We will sit down with the team and figure it out. I saw they just announced the 55 title [fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier], so it looks to [Makhachev] is finally defending against a 55er, which is good on him. Like I said, there is an El Matador [Ilia Topuria], he’s doing everything in his will to try to escape the bull in the pen. So, you know, I’m here.”
Watch Holloway’s entire UFC 300 post-fight press conference below:
Ilia Topuria discredits Max Holloway following UFC 300, explains why he would defeat Holloway
Ilia Topuria was caught on camera reacting to Max Holloway knocking out Justin Gaethje, with some fans claiming he looked nervous. Yet, the reigning UFC featherweight world champion downplayed Holloway’s performance by saying this during an interview backstage at UFC 300 with Carlos Contreras Legaspi (ESPN Deportes):
“I saw, well nothing special to be honest with you. In the end, a game of exchanging blows without any strategy behind, just throwing blows without any defense, hands down, and well that can happen, but that would never happen with me because I am a person who thinks inside the Octagon, right? The truth is that [Max] has talked a lot all week. It’s normal, it’s what you have to do. The results are of course, what he couldn’t do in ninety minutes [against Volkanovski], I did in nine. So, he can say what he wants, but enjoy today and prepare for what’s coming. You can do whatever, you’re not going to be able to change the outcome.”
Topuria continued by discrediting Holloway:
“I see [Holloway as] super basic. I see that when they pressure [Max], he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t know how to backwards. Everyone is good when they are allowed to think, when they are allowed to walk forward when they are allowed to do what they want, everyone is good. But when you have someone in front of you who thinks he is counterattacking you, who attacks you, who closes the angles, and the blows are of power, who hits you, who can fight you, who can knock you down, who has an unbreakable mentality, he is undefeated, it makes it very difficult for you in that type of fight.”
Max Holloway left UFC 300 with a three-fight win streak after defeating Arnold Allen, ‘The Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung, and Justin Gaethje, Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria last fought on February 17 when he shockingly knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to become the new featherweight champion and extend his professional MMA record to 15-0.
Watch Topuria discredit Holloway below:
Ilia Topuria's reaction to Max Holloway's knockout at #UFC300:
"I saw nothing special to be honest with you. In the end, a game of exchanging blows without any strategy behind, just throwing blows without any defense… that would never happen with me.
[Max] has talked a lot… pic.twitter.com/IJhJkYHfLy
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 14, 2024
