Max Holloway earlier than UFC 308: 'Copycat' Ilia Topuria making an attempt to steal Conor McGregor's aura

by Christina S. Brown
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ABU DHABI – Max Holloway ripped UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria for making an attempt to impersonate Conor McGregor.

Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) challenges Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the title in Saturday’s UFC 308 headliner at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi (pay-per-view, ESPN+).

Topuria has made some daring statements and never minced phrases on the subject of Holloway. Nevertheless, “Blessed” is unfazed by the trash speak.

“I’m extra confused about all the things he’s saying,” Holloway informed MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “He’s speaking about me not desirous to combat, me being compelled to combat. He acquired me out right here feeling like how he taken care of my Gaethje combat, so it’s loopy.

“His thoughts could be very attention-grabbing. But when that’s what it takes to be the very best model of himself come Saturday evening then so be it. He can speak all that speak he needs as a result of on the finish of the day, he nonetheless has to see me in three days.”

Topuria mentioned he’ll problem Holloway to his personal sport by pointing to the center of the octagon for a throwdown within the first 10 seconds of the combat. Holloway isn’t shopping for Topuria’s declare and accuses “El Matador” of copying Conor McGregor’s persona.

“It simply is mindless,” Holloway mentioned. “To me, I don’t suppose he deserves – you’ve acquired to earn that proper. I don’t suppose he deserves that proper. I imply, you guys know the man he’s copycatting. This man is a copycat all the way down to his tattoos, to his aura, to the best way he’s approaching fights. The man is a copycat. On the finish of the day, I feel you’ve acquired to earn that second, and I imagine he may have earned it with Josh Emmett.

“Of their five-round warfare, Josh Emmett was making an attempt to swing. For those who guys return to that combat and watch what occurred, when Josh Emmett tried to swing, somebody shot, and somebody held somebody down for the remainder of the combat. So, I feel the second must be earned, and he’s simply making an attempt to steal stuff. He’s already making an attempt to steal one particular person’s aura, and now he’s making an attempt to steal any person else’s factor.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 308.

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