Aljamain Sterling just lately provided his insights on the upcoming featherweight title conflict between reigning champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway at UFC 308.
“El Matador” is gearing as much as put his title on the road for the primary time towards Holloway within the headlining bout of an eagerly awaited pay-per-view occasion set to happen on the Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on October 26.
Topuria claimed the 145-pound championship with a surprising knockout of former titleholder Alexander Volkanovski within the second spherical at UFC 298 in February. He has secured 5 victories in beneath two rounds, dismantling formidable foes reminiscent of Bryce Mitchell, Jai Herbert, and Josh Emmett.
Then again, “Blessed” is getting ready for his third bid to recapture the featherweight crown, which slipped from his grasp towards Volkanovski again in December 2019. Regardless of two valiant rematch efforts that fell quick, Holloway has roared again with a trio of victories. He’s coming off a last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje in a light-weight showdown at UFC 300 in April, a victory that additionally topped him the BMF champion.
Topuria has constructed his status on a mix of aggressive placing and highly effective grappling. In the meantime, Holloway’s in depth expertise and resilience make him a frightening problem for any opponent.
“Funk Grasp” means that if Holloway can expertly management the space and absolutely capitalize on his attain benefit, he has an actual shot at toppling Topuria.
Sterling Predicts Holloway May Push Topuria To His Limits In Championship Rounds
Throughout a latest look on Verse Us with Eric Nicksick, Sterling weighed in on the Topuria vs. Holloway conflict at UFC 308. The previous UFC bantamweight champion acknowledged “El Matador’s” knockout energy, but he identified a number of potential vulnerabilities.
Sterling believes that if Holloway can keep the struggle on the toes and execute his placing sport with precision, it may spell hassle for the defending champion.
“Topuria is a savage; that man can crack, however he struggled with Volkanovski within the first spherical,” Sterling mentioned. “Enter Max Holloway: nice footwork, excessive guard, lengthy punches. He has shorter attain than Volkanovski, however his footwork is what helps him a lot in his fights, and he’s nice sturdiness. So if he will get again to his kicking sport and stays in his vary—Topuria, I believe, is 5’6″, perhaps 5’7″. Max has a shorter attain for a man at 145 kilos; I believe it’s like 67″. So that you take a look at that, you take a look at Topuria’s nice grappling, however Max has nice takedown protection. If Max may keep on his bike and contact him from the skin, it will be very attention-grabbing to see what occurs within the later rounds.”
“Funk Grasp” went on to focus on that Topuria’s cardio stays comparatively untested, and he recommended that if “Blessed” can prolong the struggle into the fourth and fifth rounds whereas sustaining a measured placing strategy, it may pose one more problem for the undefeated Georgian-Spaniard.
“We haven’t seen Topuria [get] exhausted or drained but. In spherical 5 with Josh Emmett, he was within the driver’s seat the entire time, however what occurs for those who may set a little bit fatigue in him—him having some failed takedown makes an attempt, or even when he will get the takedowns and Max can get again up—it makes the struggle very attention-grabbing. He’s at all times in your face with these spinning again kicks. If Max will get again to the old-school Max, it’s a really intriguing struggle.”
