- Ilia Topuria knocked out Max Holloway to defend featherweight title at UFC 308
- Holloway had never previously been stopped by strikes in his illustrious career
Ilia Topuria vowed to stand and trade with Max Holloway — one of the most decorated strikers in UFC history — during their Saturday night clash in Abu Dhabi.
When the lights dimmed and the fight started, Topuria was true to his word. He charged to the centre 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 appeared to work for Topuria, who knocked Holloway out for the first time in his MMA career – winning the contest in the third round to retain his featherweight title.
Topuria’s intentions were clear leading up to this bout: he aimed to cement his status as the best in the division. Earlier this year, he dismantled Alex Volkanovski to claim the featherweight title, a win that would typically secure his spot as the best in the division.
But the fans weren’t quite ready to anoint him as their champion until he faced Holloway, one of the most celebrated fighters in UFC history.
Ilia Topuria defended his featherweight title in emphatic fashion in 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 crashing to the canvas by connecting with a left hook in the third round
He needed to defeat Holloway, who headed into Saturday’s fight holding 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 supporting Holloway and Sergio Ramos supporting Topuria.
And it’s safe to say they weren’t disappointed. Holloway struck first with a right hand before kicking to the body and landing a punishing elbow towards the end of the round.
However, it was Topuria who secured two takedowns in the first, while also landing several right hands.
The second round saw Topuria continue to score right hands, although Holloway’s volume and output was much higher than the 27-year-old’s.
But, it was in the third round that the momentum well and truly shifted in Topuria’s favour.
Both fighters wasted little time getting down to business from the opening bell on Saturday
Holloway attempted to use his vaunted volume striking to keep the champion at bay
Topuria found his mark with heavy strikes as he worked his way inside Holloway’s reach
After Holloway’s successful calf kicks, Topuria landed a powerful right hand pushing his opponent back onto the cage.
He pounced on his momentum and landed a devastating left hook to send Holloway tumbling to the canvas for the first time in his career.
Topuria finished the job off with several hammerfists before the referee stepped in to wave off the contest.
Post-fight Topuria was joined inside the cage by Volkanovski and the pair agreed to lock horns once more in a rematch, as the Australian looks to become just the second man ever to regain UFC gold at 145lbs.
Speaking before the fight on Saturday night, Volkanovski said: ‘If Ilia wins, I’ll be fighting Ilia. But can I guarantee Sydney? I don’t know. Would Max fight me in Australia? One hundred per cent he would. But I think he’d probably fight for the BMF title (next).
The Real Madrid superfan posed with Los Blancos legend Sergio Ramos, left, post-fight
Topuria was joined inside the Octagon by ex featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski
‘So if he wins, I either fight him in Sydney or I do an interim (title fight) against Diego Lopes. That guarantees me a title fight sooner.
‘Who would I rather fight next? Ilia in Sydney, that would be perfect to get my win back, that’s the dream. But Max winning probably guarantees me the title fight sooner.’
