ABU DHABI – Ilia Topuria not solely retained his standing as UFC featherwieght champion, however he additionally received a brand new title, in keeping with him.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) grew to become the primary man to cease former UFC champion Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC), as he knocked out the gritty Hawaiian in the principle occasion of Saturday’s UFC 308. Holloway entered the 145-pound championship struggle coming off a knockout win over Justin Gaethje, which received him the BMF (Baddest Motherf*cker) title.
The BMF belt was not formally on the road, however Topuria doesn’t care both manner. He sees himself as a two-belt title holder.
“I by no means perceive why they didn’t put the BMF title on the road,” Topuria instructed reporters on the UFC 308 post-fight press convention. “It needs to be on the road because the first day. However hey, don’t need to make it official? I’m going to make it official on my own.
“Now I’m the brand new ‘Baddest Motherf*ker’ world champion.”
Though he shocked many together with his efficiency, Topuria anticipated to cease Holloway. The one factor he did discover stunning is that when he ponted to the bottom, Holloway didn’t have interaction with him in his signature brawl.
“That shocked me that I pointed to the bottom, and he didn’t cease in the midst of the octagon,” Topuria mentioned. “He began some bullsh*t like this. You known as your self the bull. If you known as me out, you mentioned, ‘I’m the bull and ‘The Matador’ is working from me.’ You by no means see a bull doing this. That shocked me a little bit bit, so I needed to change the sport plan a little bit bit. However on the finish of the day, I get the knockout.”
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