- Ilia Topuria knocked out Max Holloway to defend the featherweight title at UFC 308
- Holloway had never before been stopped by strikes in his illustrious career
Ilia Topuria vowed to trade Max Holloway – one of the most decorated strikers in UFC history – during their Saturday night match in Abu Dhabi.
When the lights went out and the fight began, Topuria kept his word. He charged toward the center of the Octagon, pointed to the ground and called for Holloway to engage — a move reminiscent of Holloway’s fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
The threat seemed to work for Topuria, who knocked out Holloway for the first time in his MMA career and won the bout in the third round to retain his featherweight title.
Topuria’s intentions were clear leading up to this fight: he wanted to cement his status as the best in the division. Earlier this year, he dismantled Alex Volkanovski to claim the featherweight title, a victory that would typically secure his spot as the best in the division.
But fans weren’t quite ready to anoint him their champion until he faced Holloway, one of the most celebrated fighters in UFC history.
Ilia Topuria made an emphatic defense of his featherweight title during the UFC 308 main event
The 27-year-old became the first man ever to knock out former world champion Max Holloway
Topuria sent Holloway to the canvas after connecting with a left hook in the third round
He had to beat Holloway, who entered Saturday’s fight with the UFC records for Significant Strikes Landed (3378) and Total Strikes Landed (3622).
The celebrities flocked to the Etihad Arena to catch a glimpse of the action, with Chris Eubank Jr. Holloway supported and Sergio Ramos Topuria supported.
And it’s safe to say they weren’t disappointed. Holloway struck with right hands first before kicking the body and landing a punishing elbow toward the end of the round.
However, it was Topuria who secured two takedowns in the first inning, while also landing a number of right hands.
In the second round, Topuria right hands continued to score, although Holloway’s volume and output were much higher than the 27-year-old’s.
But it was in the third round that the momentum really shifted in Topuria’s favor.
Both fighters wasted little time in getting down to business from the opening bell on Saturday
Holloway tried to use his vaunted volume attack to keep the champion at bay
But Topuria consistently found his mark with heavy strikes after pushing his way into Holloway’s range
After Holloway’s successful calf kicks, Topuria landed a powerful right hand, pushing his opponent back onto the cage.
He took advantage of his momentum and landed a devastating left hook, sending Holloway tumbling to the canvas for the first time in his career.
Topuria finished the job with several hammer fists before the referee stepped in to wave off the match.
After the fight, Topuria was joined in the cage by Volkanovski and the pair agreed to battle once again in a rematch as the Australian looks to become just the second man ever to regain UFC gold at 145 pounds.
Volkanovski said before the fight on Saturday night: “If Ilia wins, I will fight Ilia. But can I guarantee Sydney? Don’t know. Would Max fight me in Australia? One hundred percent he would. But I think he would probably fight for the BMF title (next).
The Real Madrid superfan posed with Los Blancos legend Sergio Ramos after the fight
Topuria was also joined in the Octagon by former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski
“So if he wins, I’ll fight him in Sydney or do an interim (title fight) against Diego Lopes. That would rather guarantee me a title fight.
‘Who would I most like to fight? Ilia in Sydney, that would be perfect to get my victory back, that’s the dream. But Max winning is more likely to guarantee me the title fight.’
