MMA fans are in for an electrifying surprise at UFC 308 when undefeated knockout artist and featherweight champion Ilia Topuria steps into the octagon to face off against UFC’s self-proclaimed “best boxer” and former 145-pound champion, Max “Blessed” Holloway.
With just a week left before UFC 308’s main event, the excitement surrounding the fight is reaching its peak, especially after Topuria delivered a fiery message to UFC fighters who show him respect in person but secretly pick Holloway to win in Abu Dhabi.
Since the announcement of the UFC 308 featherweight title bout, “El Matador” Topuria has exuded immense confidence, predicting that he will deliver a devastating first-round knockout, handing Holloway the first KO loss of his professional career.
“I don’t believe it; I know it’s going to be in the first round,” Topuria declared in a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, asserting that Holloway simply “isn’t on my level” when it comes to a live fight.
Many believe the opportunity for a knockout could come sooner than expected if both fighters follow through on their promises to meet in the center of the octagon and trade blows in the opening exchange.
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“I’m going to point to the ground and we’ll see what happens. I’ll be in the middle of the octagon, so let’s throw hands, brother. If you’re ready, I was born ready.”
“The first 10 seconds, I’ll point to the center and I’ll be there. I want to give the fans the best and most exciting 10 seconds in UFC history—they deserve it.”
Topuria added that if Holloway repeats his famous gesture from UFC 300, he guarantees he’ll “knock him out and take his head off.” He also took aim at UFC fighters backing Holloway in the fight.
“We’ll find out if he’s a BMF or just another idiot like the rest who predict I’m going to lose to Max Holloway. I see all the UFC fighters’ predictions—everyone says he’s going to beat me. All the lazy ones, screw them all.
“I’m going to knock him out, and after that, don’t even say ‘hi’ to me if you see me around. Screw all of them.”
Although Topuria didn’t drop any names, he issued a clear warning not to act friendly around him if they’ve previously predicted a “Blessed” victory.
“I won’t even tell you their names, screw them all. I’m taking notes—they’re like snakes in the grass. When they see you, they act like fans, but when they have to make a call, it’s ‘Oh, Max is going to beat him.’ Maybe they’re just a little jealous.”
Later in the interview, Topuria made the bold claim that Max Holloway didn’t initially want to face him at UFC 308, secretly requesting to stay active in the lightweight division instead.
“He was avoiding the fight with me the whole time. He said something like, ‘I told UFC I want the easiest fight, I want to fight Ilia Topuria’—that’s a lie. A contender never chooses their fights, ever.
“I’m the champion, and I chose who I wanted to fight next,” the Hispanic-Georgian KO artist stated, accusing Holloway of attempting to dodge him in favor of a matchup with Michael Chandler.
“I said ‘I want to fight Max Holloway,’ and they told me he was asking to stay in the 155-pound division to fight Michael Chandler. I don’t know if he asked for a bunch of other guys, but they told him, ‘No, Max, you have to fight Ilia because he wants to fight you,’ so he finally had to accept.”
Regardless of whether Holloway was “trying hard to avoid me,” the two fighters will finally settle the score in the sands of Abu Dhabi next weekend. UFC 308 is set to take place live from the United Arab Emirates on October 26th.
The highly anticipated clash between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway promises to be one for the ages. With Topuria’s aggressive confidence and Holloway’s reputation as one of UFC’s toughest competitors, fans are guaranteed a fight filled with intensity, drama, and, potentially, a knockout that could alter the history of the featherweight division. As both fighters make their final preparations, the MMA world is watching closely, ready for a showdown that will leave a lasting impact on UFC history.
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