ABU DHABI – UFC featherweigth champion Ilia Topuria is difficult Max Holloway to fulfill in the midst of the octagon, level to the bottom, and throw down in his signature model. Nonetheless, he doubts that may occur.
Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) makes his first title protection this Saturday in the primary occasion of UFC 308. He takes on former champion Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in a heated and extremely anticipated matchup. Each Topuria and Holloway teased of a brawl in the midst of the octagon, however Holloway stated at Wednesday’s media day that he’s not deserving of a classic, Holloway shootout.
“To me, I don’t assume he deserves,” Holloway stated. “It’s important to earn that, and I don’t assume he’s deserved that proper.”
Topuria responded by saying that Holloway is definitely cautious of his knockout energy, and that the deserving argument is an excuse to keep away from a brawl.
“He’s already backing out,” Topuria stated on the UFC 308 media day. “If he brawls with me, he’s already knocked out. He’s already knocked out.
“If I have been one other sort of fighter like Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega, he’d say, ‘In fact, I’ll throw down for a couple of seconds. It’s no large deal.’ He says he’s working a giant threat, however what threat is he working? The one factor that makes him related is the BMF, which he’s not occasion placing on the road. I’m the one which’s risking all the things. I’m the one which’s placing this belt on the road. I’m the one risking all of it. And even then, he doesn’t need to do it. Why? Ask him. Go slide a notice underneath his door.”
Holloway additionally accused Topuria of being a copycat to Conor McGregor, to which Topuria additionally had a response.
“He doesn’t even know what to say anymore,” Topuria stated. “Why doesn’t he speak about what we’re right here to do? Which is the combat. That’s as a result of he doesn’t see any flaws i me. He doesn’t know the place to seize from. He is aware of I’m significantly better than him, and now he has to resort to different issues, identical to when Conor (McGregor) was saying I wasn’t Spanish. As a result of I don’t have any flaws as a fighter, and I’m significantly better than them, they go to that. However we’ll see on Saturday, he reveals up, and I’m shutting his mouth.”
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