Ilia Topuria rejects the notion that he turned down a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 305 in Australia.
With the octagon headed again to Perth for a pay-per-view occasion on Aug. 18 and Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) not having a combat scheduled for his first featherweight title protection, longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan lately acknowledged {that a} rematch with Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) was introduced to the champion.
“I don’t know who he desires to combat subsequent,” Rogan mentioned throughout a dialog with Max Holloway on a current episode of the “JRE MME Present” podcast. “However I suppose he appears like he’s the champ, he can name the pictures. I do know that he turned down the Perth one – 305, the Volkanovski rematch.”
Topuria defeated Volkanovski by second-round knockout at UFC 298 in February to turn out to be 145-pound champion. Given Volkanovski’s resume throughout his stint on prime, many, together with himself, believed a right away rematch was so as. However with Volkanovski taking a second consecutive knockout loss within the combat after being defeated by Islam Makhachev in October, there was a perception Volkanovski ought to take a protracted layoff, which opened the door for one more contender.
Holloway charged by way of that door at UFC 300 when he knocked out Justin Gaethje in spectacular style to say the BMF title, and all indicators level to a showdown with Topuria, which Volkanovski mentioned he thinks “Blessed” will win with ease.
Topuria clearly caught wind of those narratives, evident by the truth that he issued a response Wednesday on social media, sternly denying Rogan’s declare and poking enjoyable at Volkanovski for his prediction of a Holloway combat (by way of X and Instagram):
I by no means turned down the rematch with Alex because the UFC has by no means supplied me this combat. As I’ve mentioned many instances earlier than, I would be the first to knockout Holloway. Let’s hold this straightforward: Do you wish to combat? If the reply is sure, there’s nothing extra to debate. Deliver my belt and…
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) Could 1, 2024
Now it stays to be seen what comes subsequent for Topuria. He’s insisted Holloway should put the BMF title on the road too after they meet for the featherweight strap and has as soon as once more emphasised it’s a non-negotiable time period, in any other case he’ll push to defend towards Brian Ortega as an alternative.
Holloway was amused by Topuria’s newest feedback, and issued a fiery reply (by way of X):
Bro you’re the one making this difficult. Ennnnooouuggghhhh already lol. I’ll “convey your belt” The Bitching Mom Fcker 😂 All you might be doing is placing phrases collectively now. You’re spiraling. 🤙🏻
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) Could 1, 2024
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