Undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria does not plan on pulling any punches when he faces former champ and current BMF titleholder Max Holloway at UFC 308 later this month.
Topuria did not pull any punches during a heated interview less than three weeks out from their main event bout.
“You will be lights out for the first time,” Topuria said bluntly to Holloway during a conversation hosted and mediated by UFC play-by-play commentator Brendan Fitzgerald and recorded remotely as opposed to in person.
Holloway is moving back down to the 145-pound division after knocking out Justin Gaethje in the last second of their featured BMF Title bout at UFC 300 in April and had been eyeing Topuria ever since the 15-0 fighter knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 298 in February to become champion.
“I wanted the easiest fight (next),” Holloway said in response to Topuria claiming Holloway was ducking him. “I want Ilia Topuria. That’s what I said.”
The 32-year-old is 0-3 in his last three undisputed title fights, all of which were 25-minute unanimous decision losses to Volkanovski, who was the lone fighter to defeat Holloway at 145 pounds in the past decade. Holloway initially won an interim featherweight title by beating Anthony Pettis; he later unified the title when he stopped Jose Aldo. He defended his title against Aldo in their rematch, plus Brian Ortega and Frankie Edgar.
“What he couldn’t do in 75 minutes, I did in seven,” Topuria said of his second-round finish of Volkanovski. “(Holloway) has seven professional losses, I have zero. He’s the challenger, I’m the champion. That’s why I know that I’m going to knock him out.”
This digital encounter adds a layer of intrigue to this budding rivalry as the event approaches. What will the energy be like during fight week and the pre-fight press conference?
UFC 308 takes place Oct. 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and also features a five-round co-main event between Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev.