Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria places his title on the road for the primary time within the UFC 308 important occasion in opposition to former titleholder Max Holloway. Fellow former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski weighed in on the matchup throughout an interview with Kevin Iole.
Volkanovski gained the 145-pound title by defeating Holloway in Dec. 2019. Topuria captured the featherweight championship by defeating Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. He holds three wins over Holloway and has educated for and been within the octagon with Topuria.
Topuria has an intensive background in grappling, however Volkanovski does not suppose it might be smart to attempt to Holloway down.
“Max has bought nice takedown protection, so I simply suppose it should be very exhausting for Ilia to get it there and maintain him there. Getting him down is fairly tough, and submitting I believe could be fairly troublesome for Ilia. I believe Ilia would know that,” Volkanovski mentioned.
“I believe for him to attempt to search for the takedown in opposition to somebody like Max might put on on him much more, you recognize, the fuel tank,” Volkanovski continued. “Max can do all of it day. We all know that. He is confirmed it time and time once more. I believe it is going to be fairly troublesome for him to get him to the mat, to be sincere.”
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Volkanovski identified the variations in preventing kinds. Holloway is a quantity sticker identified for his endurance and sturdiness. Topuria is extra of a stalking fighter with knockout energy. If the battle goes to the later rounds, Volkanovski is fascinated about how Topuria handles Holloway’s relentless output.
“That is going to be an actual good take a look at for Ilia. If Ilia does not catch him early, you are actually going to see how he handles being uncomfortable,” Volkanovski mentioned. “Within the cage, even earlier than he fought within the UFC, he hasn’t actually dealt with that an excessive amount of. He is had some adversities however not on that degree, not if you’re crumbling.”
“Clearly, Max has been there one million instances,” Volkanovski continued. “He is simply going to get increasingly snug because the battle goes the place that is unknown territory for Ilia in opposition to somebody at that degree.”
Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 308 important occasion prediction
“Ilia’s an important fighter,” Volkanovksi mentioned. “Max has confirmed himself time and time once more. Look who Max has fought.
“I simply suppose the place Ilia is powerful, he may nonetheless have difficulties with Max. Even when he does land them large pictures, Max is thought for that granite chin. I believe it should be more durable than he thinks to land on Max, however even when he does there is a good probability Max can take them. Because the battle goes I believe it should be even more durable,” Volkanovski continued.
