Ilia Topuria is able to grant Max Holloway his want.
Following his all-time nice knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 on Saturday, Holloway adopted up on his plans to name for a battle with featherweight champion Topuria. All through battle week, Holloway made some extent to say that Topuria made it to the highest of the 145-pound ladder with out having to battle him, and now he feels the time is correct for Topuria to must face that take a look at.
To Topuria’s credit score, he has agreed to the suggestion, however not and not using a warning for Holloway.
“It’s clear for me, my subsequent battle is towards Max Holloway,” Topuria stated (Spanish translation through ESPN’s Carlos Contreras Legaspi). “Congratulations and luxuriate in tonight, however after preventing me he must return within the line.”
Topuria has but to be defeated in his professional preventing profession, which features a 7-0 mark within the UFC. After dispatching of contenders Josh Emmett and Bryce Mitchell, Topuria took benefit of a title shot alternative and completed champion Alexander Volkanovski through strikes in Spherical 2 at UFC 298. In doing so, he turned the primary man ever to defeat Volkanovski in a 145-pound bout.
Holloway fell brief in three title bouts towards “The Nice,” however feels he’s completed sufficient to problem Topuria for the prospect to turn out to be featherweight champion as soon as extra.
“That’s cool,” Holloway stated on the night’s post-fight presser when instructed of Topuria’s response. “What am I going to say? What if he goes to the again of the road? So on the finish of the day, we discover out. Like I stated, we’ve acquired questions.
“We’re within the preventing sport. Ilia can discuss, however I’ve acquired a whole lot of questions. I like listening and if that ever will get booked, you guys are going to see a whole lot of solutions. So I’m excited for it.”
Topuria was seated close to cageside, so he had an ideal view of the thrilling end to Saturday’s “BMF” title battle. His response was caught on video and relying on the way you interpret it, Topuria was both unmoved by the finale or too surprised to react.
No matter questions Holloway has about Topuria, he is aware of there’s just one option to get them sorted.
“All people’s like, ‘Oh, he’s like no matter,’ however I don’t know the dude,” Holloway stated of Topuria’s response. “You don’t know if he’s socially awkward or one thing, so possibly that’s simply what he’s. Truthful play to him, I don’t know the way animated or no matter he’s, so I ain’t going to take it.
“This man is a world champion, he’s a killer, however like I stated all battle week, we’ve acquired questions. There’s a whole lot of questions in regards to the man and I need to determine that out.”
