ABU DHABI – UFC featherweigth champion Ilia Topuria is challenging Max Holloway to meet in the middle of the octagon, point to the ground, and throw down in his signature style. However, he doubts that will happen.
Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) makes his first title defense this Saturday in the main event of UFC 308. He takes on former champion Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in a heated and highly anticipated matchup. Both Topuria and Holloway teased of a brawl in the middle of the octagon, but Holloway said at Wednesday’s media day that he’s not deserving of a vintage, Holloway shootout.
“To me, I don’t think he deserves,” Holloway said. “You have to earn that, and I don’t think he’s deserved that right.”
Topuria responded by saying that Holloway is actually wary of his knockout power, and that the deserving argument is an excuse to avoid a brawl.
“He’s already backing out,” Topuria said at the UFC 308 media day. “If he brawls with me, he’s already knocked out. He’s already knocked out.
“If I were another type of fighter like Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega, he’d say, ‘Of course, I’ll throw down for a few seconds. It’s no big deal.’ He says he’s running a big risk, but what risk is he running? The only thing that makes him relevant is the BMF, which he’s not event putting on the line. I’m the one that’s risking everything. I’m the one that’s putting this belt on the line. I’m the one risking it all. And even then, he doesn’t want to do it. Why? Ask him. Go slide a note under his door.”
Holloway also accused Topuria of being a copycat to Conor McGregor, to which Topuria also had a response.
“He doesn’t even know what to say anymore,” Topuria said. “Why doesn’t he talk about what we’re here to do? Which is the fight. That’s because he doesn’t see any flaws i me. He doesn’t know where to grab from. He knows I’m much better than him, and now he has to resort to other things, just like when Conor (McGregor) was saying I wasn’t Spanish. Because I don’t have any flaws as a fighter, and I’m much better than them, they go to that. But we’ll see on Saturday, he shows up, and I’m shutting his mouth.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ilia Topuria doubts Max Holloway will challenge him to brawl at UFC 308: ‘He’s already backing out’
