Former featherweight title contender Max Holloway takes on Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight title in the five-round UFC 308 headliner on October 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. He and Topuria will compete in the main event for the featherweight belt, though Topuria has already taken the belt having knocked out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298.
Ilia Topuria has merited his title shot with victories against the likes of Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett. At the same time, Holloway has been controlling the featherweight division, having victories over such relevant opponents as Kattar, Rodriguez, and Allen.
Max Holloway’s Theory on UFC Strategy
Max Holloway has come out to say that he knew that the UFC wanted to avoid pairing him with Ilia Topuria all this time. As seen in a video made by Max Holloway on his YouTube channel, the fighter tried to explain how UFC matchmakers worked to keep Ilia Topuria from having to fight him again. He added that
“He beat a guy (Volkanovski) that I had three chances to beat, and he did it. He had his shot, but I believe that the UFC made me fight every other contender at 145 for a reason. We’re here now, and I’m going to prove, come October 26, why the UFC was keeping him away from me.”
Holloway’s Legacy and Current Ambitions
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Before the fight against Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway made three title defenses in the featherweight division. When Holloway lost his title three times to Volkanovski, few expected him to regain the title anytime soon. Still, Holloway does not show any signs of doubt and stress and looks forward to showing that he deserves a shot at Ilia Topuria.
Max Holloway is coming to the fight determined to prove that he is not through the top-tier featherweight contenders yet. The confidence that he has and the desire to stand across Topuria show that he has confidence in himself to conquer new generation fighters. The next fight will be the most crucial point in Holloway’s career as he plans to regain his status as the champion in the UFC.
Final Thoughts
Thus, the theory of Holloway, that the UFC intentionally did not pit him and Ilia Topuria against each other earlier, is an interesting twist in their future fight during UFC 308. The ring craft of Holloway is solid; given his experience in the division, he is a serious threat to Ilia Topuria’s featherweight title.
For Holloway, this fight is not only an opportunity to reclaim his status but also an opportunity to prove to everyone that he is still among the best in the UFC among the new generation of fighters. Now, with his job on the line and as much to personally gain as any fighter on the UFC roster, Holloway is ready to show why he thinks the UFC kept Ilia Topuria from him until now.
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