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Tag: Max Holloway

  • Ilia Topuria Refutes Max Holloway’s Best Boxer Claim Ahead Of UFC 308

    Ilia Topuria Refutes Max Holloway’s Best Boxer Claim Ahead Of UFC 308

    Ilia Topuria takes serious exception to Max Holloway’s self-crowning as the UFC’s best boxer.

    “El Matador” is slated to put his featherweight title on the line for the first time this weekend against Holloway in the headliner of UFC 308, set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

    The lead-up to this much-anticipated clash has been marked by passionate rhetoric between Topuria and Holloway in interviews and across social media. The tension has largely centered on the debate over who is truly the superior fighter, with the undefeated Georgian-Spaniard asserting his ambition to become the first to knock out “Blessed” inside the Octagon.

    During the media day interaction ahead of UFC 308 on Wednesday, “El Matador” was asked for his thoughts on Holloway’s persistent claims of being the “best boxer in the UFC,” a title the Hawaiian notably proclaimed after his dominant victory over Calvin Kattar at a Fight Night event in January 2021.

    Topuria promptly dismissed the reigning BMF titleholder’s claims, stating that while he acknowledges Holloway’s striking abilities and the experience he brings to the table, he remains confident in his own skills.

    “In reality, he’s a good striker,” Topuria said. “It’s not only boxer, but calling himself the best boxer in the UFC is kind of a shame because he’s not the best boxer in the UFC, but he’s a good striker. He has a lot of experience. He’s very patient inside the Octagon.

    “But everyone is good when they can develop their style in the Octagon, and someone is not putting pressure on him. So, on Saturday night, he’s going to feel something that he’s never felt with any other opponents that he had in the past. The pressure he’s going to feel with me is going to be completely different.”

    Topuria claimed the featherweight title in a stunning upset against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 earlier this year. He currently boasts a perfect 7-0 record in the UFC, with five of those victories coming by way of finish.

    Meanwhile, “Blessed” is coming off a thrilling last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April, securing the BMF title. UFC 308 will be Holloway’s third attempt to reclaim the 145-pound crown. He boasts a 22-7 record in the Octagon, with 11 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

  • Max Holloway: ‘Copycat’ Ilia Topuria Is Trying To Steal Conor McGregor’s Aura

    Max Holloway: ‘Copycat’ Ilia Topuria Is Trying To Steal Conor McGregor’s Aura

    Max Holloway is just days away from his highly anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 308, where he will face Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title. As the fight draws near, Holloway has dismissed Topuria’s attempts at trash talk, comparing the rising contender to Conor McGregor, who became famous for his pre-fight bravado and ability to back it up once the cage door closed.

    Topuria has made bold statements about Holloway, but the former champion remains unfazed. One particular claim from Topuria was his promise to initiate a throwdown in the center of the Octagon within the first 10 seconds of the fight. Holloway, however, isn’t convinced that Topuria will follow through on this promise.

    Copycat Accusations

    Holloway didn’t hold back when criticizing Topuria’s approach, calling him a “copycat” of McGregor.

    “It just makes no sense,” Holloway said. “To me, I don’t think he deserves it—you’ve got to earn that right. I don’t think he deserves it. I mean, you guys know who he’s copying. This guy is a copycat down to his tattoos, to his aura, to the way he approaches fights.”

    Holloway went on to say, “I think the moment needs to be earned, and he’s just trying to steal stuff. He’s already trying to steal one person’s aura, and now he’s trying to steal someone else’s thing.”

  • UFC 308 Backup Diego Lopes Hopes He Isn’t Needed For Main Event Between Topuria & Holloway

    UFC 308 Backup Diego Lopes Hopes He Isn’t Needed For Main Event Between Topuria & Holloway

    Following his decisive win over Brian Ortega at UFC 306, Diego Lopes called to be the backup fighter in Abu Dhabi this weekend. In the main event, Ilia Topuria puts his featherweight title on the line for the first time at UFC 308 when he takes on the former champion, Max Holloway.

    It’s undoubtedly one of the biggest fights of the year so having another top contender on location and ready to make weight just in case is always a great plan B to have in the back pocket. This is especially true when you have someone like Lopes who as we saw earlier this year at UFC 303, is always down to step in there and fight whatever the circumstances are.

    The Brazilian is currently riding a five-fight win streak so is seemingly just one win away from earning his title shot but in the case that something unfortunate happens, that could come as soon as just three days time.

    However, despite calling for and receiving this opportunity, Lopes doesn’t have his fingers crossed that one man has to withdraw so that he can fight for the title on October 26. Just like all the fight fans around the world, the #3-ranked contender is stoked to watch this incredible match-up take place at the Etihad Arena.

    He spoke in an interview with MMA Junkie that though he’s taking all the steps that he needs to take during fight week, he’s excited to watch it go down on Saturday night even if he isn’t involved.

    “I’m waiting for everything bro but I’m so excited too to watch the fight. I hope on Friday morning, everything is okay, the guys stay healthy for the fight on Saturday night. I’m so excited for this fight.”

    Lopes followed up, stating that though he wants to watch that fight take place this weekend, that will not get in the way of him taking the fight if the UFC pick up the phone.

    “Yeah, I hope it is. I hope it is but if UFC need me, I’m waiting.”

  • Max Holloway Teases Interest In Facing UFC Champ Islam Makhachev

    Max Holloway may still have unfinished business to settle in the UFC’s lightweight division.

    Holloway is gearing up to challenge reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in the main event of UFC 308, set to take place this Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    Holloway stunned the MMA world with a last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April, making a strong argument for a shot at the lightweight title. However, divisional champion Islam Makhachev hadn’t considered the new BMF titleholder as a potential challenger at the time.

    That said, Makhachev seems open to the idea — if “Blessed” can convincingly take down Topuria in their upcoming bout.

    During a recent interview with Demetrious Johnson, Holloway discussed his choice to return to the featherweight division following his victory over Gaethje. The Hawaiian revealed that his return to 145 pounds might be a short-term decision and that he could potentially face Makhachev next year.

    “Blessed” stated that going up against Makhachev would be akin to facing UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, calling it a significant opportunity that could further elevate his already storied career.

    “You’ve got to do great things,” Holloway said. “We had that fight booked with Khabib a while back. They call Islam the Khabib 2.0, so I want all the taste. I want all the smoke. It’d be an honor to fight that guy and try to etch my name in the history book. First thing’s first is Ilia. If I had my choice, why not? Why not be able to fight Islam?

    “Islam never ever wanted to fight me even when I was saying I was coming up to [155 pounds]. After fighting the guy that he was supposed to fight next, he still was saying, I don’t know why I would fight him. But then, recently, his tone changed, and he was like, Oh yeah if I can get past Topuria, he’d be open to fighting me. I was like, OK, that’s all we needed. We just needed that little crack in the door. I’ll squeeze my way through the rest; don’t worry about it.”

    Makhachev is riding high after his third successful lightweight title defense, having secured a submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June. The Dagestani is anticipated to face Arman Tsarukyan, likely at UFC 311 next year, although no official announcement has been made by the promotion as of yet.

  • Ilia Topuria’s Training Partner Says He’s Even More Confident Away From Interviews

    Ilia Topuria’s Training Partner Says He’s Even More Confident Away From Interviews

    Since Ilia Topuria arrived in the UFC, he’s become a somewhat divisive character despite the fact that he backs up what he says inside the Octagon. The current featherweight champion has always carried himself with supreme self confidence.

    Though it’s clearly a major asset of his, it does lead to some fans reading this as arrogance, especially when he’s going up against long-time fan favorites like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. Topuria said multiple times before his fight with Volkanovski that it was already written for him to become the champion and though he respected “The Great”, it was no longer his time to sit at the top of the 145-pound division.

    In the lead up to his first title defense against Holloway this weekend at UFC 308, “El Matador” has been his usual confident self, claiming that he will be the first man to knock the former champion out. Some might say that this is Topuria just trying to sell the fight or that he’s playing up his own confidence just because there’s a microphone in front of him.

    A training partner of his in Spain says that this is completely the opposite to an act that Topuria puts on for the cameras. In a recent interview with The Scrap, Miguel Navarro gave his insight into the fight as someone who knows the champion well.

    Navarro trained with the champ at Climent Club in Alicante but has continued to make the trip to Madrid to train with him now that Topuria has moved. He says that his fellow Spaniard is always extremely self-assured, claiming that if anything, he tones it down for interviews rather than amplifying it.

    “Yeah, he’s always like that. That’s not like a role or something. Personal treatment, he’s like that and I think even more than in the interviews, even more. If you know all his people, everyone thinks like him. Everyone doesn’t have like piece of doubt, any piece of doubt.”

  • UFC 308 Backup Fighter Diego Lopes Predicts Topuria vs. Holloway

    UFC 308 Backup Fighter Diego Lopes Predicts Topuria vs. Holloway

    The UFC 308 main event is one of the biggest fights of the year between featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and his first challenger, Max Holloway. As is often the case with a fight of this magnitude, there is a backup fighter on standby in case either man is unable to compete on Saturday night.

    #3-ranked Diego Lopes is in Abu Dhabi and will make weight on Friday knowing that he could be asked to step in and fight if anything happens to the main event. The Brazilian is coming off of a big win over Brian Ortega at UFC 306 but won’t likely be the next title challenger given Alexander Volkanovski’s current position.

    Topuria vs Holloway is a fascinating contest but in the case that the fight falls apart at some stage on fight week, having a top contender and fan favorite ready and waiting would soften the blow.

    In an interview with Submission Radio, Lopes gave his prediction for the headline attraction at the Etihad Arena on October 26. He’s previously stated that fighting Holloway would be his dream fight because he’s been watching him for a long time.

    Despite the adoration that he has for the BMF titleholder, Lopes named the defending champion as his pick for the main event. A victory for “El Matador” on Saturday will surely lead to him bringing the belt back to Spain in the near future and this is something that the Brazilian contender also has his eye on.

    “I hope, bro, I don’t know it’s crazy but Ilia mention my name. UFC have plans for UFC in Spain, UFC need the guy who speaks Spanish for the promotion for the fight. I don’t know, maybe Ilia wins, I win too. Maybe we go Spain, I speak Spanish for the promotion for UFC in Spain, it’s good.”

  • UFC Rankings Report: Max Holloway Gets Big LW Boost After Dana White’s Complaints

    UFC Rankings Report: Max Holloway Gets Big LW Boost After Dana White’s Complaints

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the UFC Octagon has been followed by the release of the updated rankings.

    And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: The bad fortune has continued to come for Raquel Pennington. A few weeks on from losing the bantamweight title at UFC 307, “Rocky” has further fallen down the P4P ladder to #9, being usurped by a victor at that event in Kayla Harrison (#8).

    Further down, Maycee Barber has entered at #15, replacing former strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos.

    Women’s Strawweight: There was just one change at 115 pounds, with the rising Iasmin Lucindo (#7) swapping places with her fellow countrywoman Amanda Lemos (#8).

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: The biggest mover this week was Asu Almabayev, who has climbed a mammoth seven places to #7 after defeating Matheus Nicolau this past weekend. The defeated Brazilian, meanwhile, has dropped three spots to #10.

    Further down, Charles Johnson’s latest victory this year has earned him the #15 spot. His entry has seen the removal of Matt Schnell, who announced his plans to retire earlier this year.

    Bantamweight: Rob Font returned to winning ways at the expense of Kyler Phillips in Saturday’s co-headliner. As a result, the longtime contender has climbed one position to share #9 with Mario Bautista.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: Not long after UFC CEO Dana White used Max Holloway’s low spot in the 155-pound rankings as evidence that change is needed, “Blessed” has received a big boost. Ahead of his featherweight title challenge, the Hawaiian has risen by three places to #5 in the lightweight division.

    That’s meant Dan Hooker’s stay in the top five was a brief one, with the New Zealander down to #6 after initially returning to the upper echelon of the weight class following a win over Mateusz Gamrot.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: Anthony Hernandez has received a small reward for his main event win over Michel Pereira on Oct. 19. He’s up one spot to #12, leaving Khamzat Chimaev a position worse off at #13.

    Light Heavyweight: After being snubbed of the latest shot at champion Alex Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev has moved up one place to share the #1 rank in the division alongside former titleholder Jiří Procházka.

    Lower down the pecking order, Volkan Oezdemir has been relegated two spots to #8, providing small boosts for Nikita Krylov (#6) and recent title challenger Khalil Rountree (#7).

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Former Opponent Picks Out Changes In Max Holloway’s Style That Could Be Crucial At UFC 308

    Former Opponent Picks Out Changes In Max Holloway’s Style That Could Be Crucial At UFC 308

    UFC fans have watched Max Holloway grow up in the promotion and evolve into the elite level competitor that we now see today. The incredible success that he has achieved hasn’t been without some adjustments along the way and a former opponent of his found that out first hand.

    At UFC 308 this Saturday, Holloway will challenge Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title in his return to 145-pounds. “Blessed” has faced his fair share of heavy hitters in the past but seeing how he deals with the boxing and power of the champion is a massive factor in this fight.

    When top-10 ranked featherweight Arnold Allen faced Holloway over five rounds in April last year, the Brit was surprised by the way that the former champion fought him.

    Rather than bringing his usual brand of forward pressure and high output, the BMF titleholder was happy to counter strike and showed a different side to his game. We saw the same thing in his last fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 where aside from the final few seconds, Holloway didn’t need to put himself in harm’s way to be effective.

    Allen highlighted this during his breakdown video for the main event on October 26. “Almighty” spoke about some of the changes that he has noticed from “Blessed” in recent times.

    “Max Holloway kind of reinvigorated his style since fighting me. He made some adjustments. He started breaking distance, coming in and out, kicking more, being a little bit smarter like not taking so many shots. Not being in the pocket and just trying to out-will you. I do think one of things when I fought him that we or I didn’t respect enough is his fight IQ.”

    Allen also spoke about how Holloway is still able to pressure his opponents without constantly being in their faces. This ability to control the distance without trading with “El Matador” could be a massive factor in his attempt to reclaim the featherweight gold.

    “One of the things I really like that he’s done since making some adjustments is he disengages but he keeps the pressure on and there’s definitely an art to it. He’ll leave the danger but he’s still in the range for pressure, it’s hard to explain.”  

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPoXra01qwc&t=734s
  • VIDEO: UFC 308 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Topuria vs. Holloway & Whittaker vs. Chimaev

    VIDEO: UFC 308 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Topuria vs. Holloway & Whittaker vs. Chimaev

    Fight week for the UFC 308 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway and the co-main event between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.

    Saturday’s lineup is topped by an intriguing championship clash, with featherweight kingpin Topuria (15-0) looking to add a first successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a memorable knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February.

    If “El Matador” is to continue his rule atop the 145-pound mountain, he must record a victory over Holloway (26-7). “Blessed” will ride a three-fight win streak into his latest opportunity to regain the title, most recently getting the better of Justin Gaethje in brutal fashion up at lightweight to capture the symbolic BMF belt at UFC 300.

    Before those two collide in the main event at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, the stakes will be high for a crucial five-round middleweight clash.

    After dismantling Ikram Aliskerov in quick time to emerge victorious from the UFC’s first event in Saudi Arabia, former champion Whittaker (26-7) will return to the Middle East to face his original opponent for this past June, the undefeated Chimaev (13-0). While “The Reaper” has gone 2-0 this year after outpointing Paulo Costa to open his 2024 campaign, “Borz” hasn’t made the walk since a narrow decision win over Kamaru Usman last October.

    Ahead of those two contests in the United Arab Emirates, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 308 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    UFC 308 Countdown: Full Episode

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfrUF74cDQc
  • Max Holloway Honest On If He Can Surpass Alex Pereira For 2024 Fighter Of The Year

    Max Holloway Honest On If He Can Surpass Alex Pereira For 2024 Fighter Of The Year

    Max Holloway has expressed his belief that UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is likely to be named 2024 Fighter of the Year. In 2024, Pereira has fought three times, earning three consecutive finishes. He secured victories against Jamal Hill at UFC 300, Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303, and most recently, Khalil Rountree at UFC 307. Following these dominant performances, Pereira plans to take some time off.

    Fighter of the Year Discussion

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Holloway was asked about his thoughts on the 2024 Fighter of the Year.

    “I mean, I don’t know, man. I don’t know that I would be [the Fighter of the Year]. The way Alex [Pereira] took fights… he’s the fastest guy to defend his title, right? With three title defenses. That’s a hard man to beat.”

    He continued, “Every time I’m in the talks for [being Fighter of the Year], somebody’s having a crazy year. I think Alex Pereira has already got that win in the bag.”

    Holloway himself is set to return later this month at UFC 308, where he will challenge Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title.

  • Ilia Topuria’s Custom Shorts For UFC 308 Get Rave Reviews

    Ilia Topuria is looking to make a statement when he does battle with Max Holloway at UFC 308 next weekend. But he already appears set to be making one with what he will be wearing to the cage!

    Topuria’s custom-made fight shorts for the event have been revealed in a post on social media by the @ClubDeLasMMA account.

    The shorts are red with the designs in the championship gold that include a bull — a reference to Topuria’s nationality and “El Matador” nickname — the Venum snake, a sun and more.

    The shorts’ appearance on social media brought about significant praise for its look.

    This fight will mark Topuria’s first attempt at defending the UFC featherweight championship. He won the title earlier this year at UFC 298, defeating Alexander Volkanovski.

    Holloway, meanwhile, became interim featherweight champion with a win over Anthony Pettis at UFC 206 before unifying the title with a win over then-champion José Aldo at UFC 212. “Blessed” dropped the title to Volkanovski at UFC 245.

    This fight marks Holloway’s first since his legendary encounter with Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, where he scored a last-second knockout to win the BMF title.

  • Former UFC Champion Recalls How Max Holloway Beat Him At His Own Game: ‘That’s What That Feels Like!’

    Former UFC Champion Recalls How Max Holloway Beat Him At His Own Game: ‘That’s What That Feels Like!’

    With how long fight fans have been watching Max Holloway compete at the highest level, it can be easy to forget that he’s still only 32-years old. “Blessed” is looking to reclaim the featherweight title later this month at UFC 308 when he faces Ilia Topuria in Abu Dhabi.

    The first time that he got his hands on UFC gold was all the way back in 2016 at UFC 206 in Toronto, Canada where he faced Anthony Pettis for the interim title. A former lightweight champion, Pettis had recently moved down to 145-pounds where he submitted Charles Oliveira in his previous fight.

    Holloway earned the tenth win of his current streak in this fight, stopping Pettis in the third round after hurting him to the body to close out another great performance from “Blessed”. He would then go on to unify the belts against José Aldo in Brazil the following year.

    In a recent appearance on the MightyCast with Demetrious Johnson, Pettis reflected on his experience fighting Holloway eight years ago. At his peak, “Showtime” was known for his devastating striking, including a body kick finish over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone from back in 2013.

    He said that after Holloway hit him with a body kick of his own, he finally understood what he had been putting opponents through all those years.

    “He’s a beast bro like fighting that dude, like you have to be on your A-game. First time I ever got finished in a fight was Max Holloway. TKO. He hit me with a body kick, first time I was like, ‘That’s what that feels like…’ He hit me and I was like, ‘Oh s***!,’ and then he teed off on me and he got the title and like big up to him man, great fighter.”

  • Former UFC Champion Names MMA Mount Rushmore With No Conor McGregor, Khabib Or Jon Jones

    Former UFC Champion Names MMA Mount Rushmore With No Conor McGregor, Khabib Or Jon Jones

    There’s always going to be talk of who the greatest MMA fighters of all time are but this year more than most, it has been a particularly relevant conversation. Whether it’s due to the discourse surrounding Jon Jones and the pound-for-pound rankings or the retirement of Demetrious Johnson, it’s been a consistent topic in recent months.

    One of the latest fighters to weigh in with his own take on the discussion is the former UFC featherweight champion, Max Holloway. “Blessed” not only comes in with a fairly unique Mount Rushmore list but explains why they all deserve their spots.

    In an interview with Stake ahead of his huge main event clash with Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, Holloway left out some big names but justified why that is the case.

    “I would say Demetrious (Johnson) is definitely up there, Anderson Silva is there too, GSP and then you have to give it to Forrest Griffin because he helped put the UFC on the map. That TUF Finale on Spike TV was huge for the UFC, so those are my guys for sure. Those four guys are absolute animals.”

    Holloway went on to talk about how, in his opinion, Johnson does not get the respect that he deserves just because he reigned supreme in the smallest of the men’s weight classes.

    “When you talk about Demetrious Johnson, it seems insane to me how he is viewed just because he fought at 125 lbs. This 125-er would absolutely whoop your ass. A lot of bigger guys think they can hang with him, you get these influencers and social media personalities who go around screaming, ‘I’m 260 bro, he’s 125lbs. Brother, Demetrious Johnson would take your ACL and your arm home and then he would come back and cut your head off if he wanted to. You could do nothing about it, he’s such a beast.”

    The BMF titleholder added that he has a lot of respect for the greatest welterweight and middleweight of all time, both of which made his list.

    “I wish I was fighting during the time that GSP was around, I would have loved to have shared the Octagon with him. He’s one of the greats, as was Anderson Silva – he was such a beast.”

    Holloway signed off by explaining the reasoning behind his picks, detailing his own specific criteria and why that eliminates his long time rival, Daniel Cormier.

    “Some people might disagree with my Mount Rushmore, but I’m looking at the way these fighters carried themselves inside and outside of the Octagon, how they were ambassadors for the sport and for the company as well. ‘DC’ is probably going to be mad that he’s not on my Mount Rushmore of MMA, but I don’t like the way he carries himself out of the UFC. He thinks he’s the ‘Daddest Man on the Planet’, he is delusional.”

  • Ilia Topuria Eyes Record Held By Jorge Masvidal At UFC 308

    Ilia Topuria Eyes Record Held By Jorge Masvidal At UFC 308

    UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria wants to emphatically establish superiority over Max Holloway next weekend in Abu Dhabi.

    The importance of following up a title win with a successful defense is often a major part of the lead-up to a new champ’s first attempt at batting away a challenger.

    For some, that pressure might show. In that regard, Topuria is not ‘some’.

    “El Matador” has been his usual confident self ahead of his upcoming pay-per-view main event opposite Max Holloway at UFC 308 on Oct. 26. That’s perhaps not a surprise given how he backed up his pre-fight talk with a destructive knockout of Alexander Volkanovski.

    But based on the predictions he made during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Topuria could have a tougher time living up to his remarks come fight night at Etihad Arena.

    The Georgian-Spaniard has long expressed his belief that “Blessed” won’t escape Abu Dhabi without the first knockout loss of his career being added to his record.

    Now, Topuria is even shooting for Jorge Masvidal’s fastest-KO record, which came when he slept Ben Askren with a knee just five seconds into their showdown at UFC 239 in 2019.

    “There is no chance for Max. Forget about it. The only thing I’m praying for every day is I want him to show up, because I’m going to do the rest,” Topuria said. “We already know who is the world champion. We’re going to find out that I am the BMF also.

    “I will be there in the middle of the Octagon in the first 10 seconds. … I want to have the fastest knockout in UFC history also, with my hands,” Topuria continued. “Jorge has it with the knee, I want to do it with the hands. … If he stays in the middle in the first 10 seconds of the fight, we’re going to see the fastest knockout in UFC history.”

    Though not set to be officially on the line, talk of Holloway’s symbolic BMF title has been prominent in the build-up to next weekend’s PPV headliner.

    Should he deliver on his promise to offer a stand-and-bang scenario to “Blessed” à la UFC 300 and emerge from such an exchange with his hand raised, perhaps the masses will get behind “El Matador” and his replica BMF belt.

  • Topuria Reaffirms Plans To ‘Point The Octagon’ In First 10 Seconds Against Holloway At UFC 308

    Topuria Reaffirms Plans To ‘Point The Octagon’ In First 10 Seconds Against Holloway At UFC 308

    Ilia Topuria recently doubled down on his intention to challenge Max Holloway in a striking battle from the opening bell of their highly anticipated clash at UFC 308. “El Matador” is poised to defend his UFC featherweight title for the first time against Holloway on October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    Last week, Topuria and Holloway engaged in a fiery interview with ESPN, during which the reigning 145-pound champion donned a replica of the BMF title on his shoulder. He boldly dared “Blessed” to bring the same ferocity he displayed in landing the buzzer-beater knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in the first 10 seconds of their upcoming showdown.

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, “El Matador” underscored his desire to entice the reigning BMF titleholder to a fierce exchange of punches right in the center of the Octagon within the first 10 seconds of their bout at UFC 308. The undefeated Spaniard confidently asserted that he would deliver the most electrifying initial moments of any fight in UFC history.

    “He calls himself the BMF, but we already know who’s the world champion. In the first 10 seconds of the fight, we’re going to find out who’s the real BMF because I already challenged him. In the first 10 seconds, I’m gonna point to the ground, and we’ll see what he’s going to do.

    I will be in the middle of the Octagon, so let’s bang, bro. If you’re ready, I was born ready… First 10 seconds, I’m gonna point to the middle of the Octagon, and I will stay there. I wanna give the best and most exciting 10 seconds in UFC history to the fans.”

    Topuria went on to voice some doubt about whether “Blessed” would accept his challenge to trade blows right off the bat but remained unwavering in his belief in his knockout power. He confidently stated that if Holloway chooses to stand and bang with him, it’s only a matter of time before he puts him to sleep.

    “If he stays in the middle, I’m gonna knock him out, I’m gonna take his head off. I have prepared myself for that too… I don’t know, we’ll see. He’s calling himself the BMF, that’s one of the things we’ll find out—if he’s the BMF or if he’s the p*ssy like everyone who is predicting that I’m going to lose to Max Holloway.”

    You can watch his comments here:

  • Ilia Topuria Tells Fighters Picking Max Holloway To Stop In-Person Niceties: ‘F*ck Them All!’

    UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria believes predictions for his upcoming title defense have helped him identify plenty of “snakes in the grass.”

    Eight months on from his memorable crowning in Anaheim at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski, Topuria will put his newly won gold on the line against another legend of the division.

    Headlining next weekend’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, “El Matador” will share the cage with former featherweight kingpin and current holder of the symbolic BMF title, Max Holloway.

    The bout is among the most highly anticipated of the year thus far, and the recent success of both men have left a variety of predictions flying around the MMA community.

    Topuria, however, has frequently insisted that “Blessed” will be light work for him come fight night. And with that in mind, he’s bemused by the number of UFC peers picking against him for the Oct. 26 event.

    And during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Topuria took a moment to address those doubting the continuation of his reign.

    While he didn’t name names, the Georgian-Spanish champ suggested a number of those predicting a return to the throne for Holloway have previously interacted with him in-person.

    Having seen their picks, though, Topuria has no plans to repeat that post-UFC 308…

    “I’ve watched the predictions of all the UFC fighters. They are predicting that he is going to beat me,” Topuria said. “All the bums, f*ck you everyone. After I knock him out, don’t even tell me, ‘Hello,’ if you see me around. F*ck yourself everyone.

    “Many, many fighters (are picking against me). I don’t even want to tell you the names because I don’t want to give importance about them. F*ck them all,” Topuria continued. “I’m taking notes. They are all like snakes in the grass. They see you around and then they are acting like fans. But when they have to do something, ‘No, Max is going to beat him.’ Maybe they feel a little bit of envy.”

    Topuria continues to speak confidently when it comes to his first title defense, promising that Holloway won’t see a second round in Abu Dhabi later this month.

    Pressure will certainly be on him to deliver. But should “El Matador” do so, his journey toward top spot in 145-pound history would certainly be off to a strong start, and perhaps a desired lightweight move to challenge Islam Makhachev could await.

  • Max Holloway States Where Beating Ilia Topuria Would Rank Amongst His Biggest Achievements

    Max Holloway States Where Beating Ilia Topuria Would Rank Amongst His Biggest Achievements

    Max Holloway has already achieved some incredible things in his career by the age of 32. The former UFC featherweight champion and current BMF titleholder is certainly no stranger to being in the spotlight and that’s not going anywhere just yet.

    However, his next outing provides a new challenge as he looks to reclaim the 145-pound gold when returning to featherweight to face the new champion, Ilia Topuria. The undefeated “El Matador” has been unstoppable thus far inside the Octagon but that only makes Holloway more excited.

    He believes that a win at UFC 308 would rank pretty highly amongst his list of accomplishments, even if it doesn’t take the top spot.

    Max Holloway Says Beating Ilia Topuria Would Likely Rank Third On His Personal List

    In a recent interview with Stake, Holloway gave his thoughts on where being the first man to defeat Topuria, reclaiming the featherweight belt in the process, would fall in terms of his own viewpoint.

    He believes that two moments will probably still rank higher even with this being one of the biggest fights of the year. “Blessed” said that it will take something special to upset his two favourite moments from his career because of the impact and personal significance that surrounds them.

    “This victory would be in the top three of my career, for sure. Winning that first title will always be special. Beating Jose Aldo, the King of Rio and an idol of mine, nothing will ever beat that I don’t think. Secondly, the 300 moment has to be up there for me. All of the build-up and the lead up to it, there were so many things going on it felt bigger than the BMF title.

    “Unless I can do something crazy to top that UFC 300 moment, then it might be second. It will 100% be a top three moment in my career, not just because it is for the title but also because of who it is against. This new generation guy, with a variety of different skills, he’s so powerful and athletic – but beating him would make this a top three moment of my career for sure.”

  • Former UFC Champion Breaks Down Where Ilia Topuria May Have An Advantage Over Max Holloway

    Former UFC Champion Breaks Down Where Ilia Topuria May Have An Advantage Over Max Holloway

    The main event of UFC 308 on October 26 can’t come soon enough as one of the biggest fights of the year goes down in Abu Dhabi. One of the most exciting elements of the fight is that both the champion and challenger are known as two of the best boxers in the UFC.

    Ilia Topuria has got dynamite in his hands with the speed to back it up and as for Max Holloway, he’s a record breaker when it comes to significant strikes for a reason.

    Both men do their best work with their hands but one former UFC champion, who is also known for packing a mean punch, believes that Holloway’s reliance on this could cost him in the featherweight title fight headliner.

    Cody Garbrandt Says Ilia Topuria Is The More Diverse Striker And Mixed Martial Artist

    In a recent appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast, Cody Garbrandt gave his thoughts on the fight that everyone is going to be talking about over the next few weeks.

    Garbrandt believes that though both men are excellent boxers, Topuria is the more varied striker and overall mixed martial artist. “No Love” pointed to Holloway’s trilogy of fights against Alexander Volkanovski where despite “Blessed” having success, his boxing wasn’t enough to seal a victory.

    “I don’t think Max, and I love Max to death, I don’t think he mixes it enough for mixed martial arts. He’s boxing heavy, doesn’t throw too many kicks. You look at the Volkanovski fights, he didn’t really mix it together, the MMA together. I thought those fights were super close, he won some of them, they gave them to Volk but with Ilia, he wrestles, he grapples, he does it all, he kicks. But I’m excited to see it like Max is so long, so rangy. Super tough, got a granite chin.”   

  • VIDEO: Ilia Topuria & Max Holloway Trade Barbs In Face-To-Face Interview Ahead Of UFC 308

    VIDEO: Ilia Topuria & Max Holloway Trade Barbs In Face-To-Face Interview Ahead Of UFC 308

    The build-up to the UFC’s annual October pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi has picked up with a face-to-face interview between its two headliners.

    The promotion will be back in the Middle East for the third time this year, and back inside the Etihad Arena just over two months on from UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov being staged at the venue.

    This time, the Abu Dhabi crowd will be treated to championship stakes and one of the most highly anticipated fights of 2024 thus far, as featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria puts his gold on the line opposite legend Max Holloway.

    Topuria, Holloway Verbally Spar Pre-UFC 308

    In the months leading up to UFC 308, the pair set to collide in the main event have gone back and forth on social media and during their respective interviews.

    And that trend continued weeks out from the Oct. 26 event, as “El Matador” and “Blessed” joined UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald for a virtual face-to-face interaction.

    Fitzgerald wasn’t required too often, with Topuria and Holloway frequently abandoning questions to trade barbs at one another.

    On the champ’s side, the Georgian-Spaniard dismissed Holloway’s boxing credentials and gave a critical review of his UFC 300 win over Justin Gaethje, branding the fight “boring” and the last-second knockout absent of technique.

    Holloway’s rebuttals remained consistent throughout: we’ll see what happens on Oct. 26.

  • ‘Zero Technique’ – Ilia Topuria On Max Holloway Knocking Out Justin Gaethje

    ‘Zero Technique’ – Ilia Topuria On Max Holloway Knocking Out Justin Gaethje

    Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway are scheduled to fight for the UFC featherweight championship at UFC 308. While Holloway secured the title shot after beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, “El Matador” claimed the title from Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298.

    The undefeated Georgian fighter is as confident as ever ahead of his first title defense. From claiming he’ll be the first to knock Holloway out to purchasing his own BMF belt, Topuria has done everything to get under the challenger’s skin.

    Here’s how Topuria and Holloway responded when asked who the best boxer in the UFC was…

    Ilia Topuria Explains Why Max Holloway Is Not The Best Boxer In The UFC

    Topuria and Holloway met virtually on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel to promote their UFC 308 matchup. The interview started on a relatively positive note with the UFC featherweight champ admitting he’s been a fan of “Blessed” for a long time.

    However, things soon turned sour as “El Matador” outright rejected Holloway’s skills and claimed to shut his lights out repeatedly. He stated the challenger lacks head movement, knockout power, and several other fundamentals to be called the best boxer in the UFC.

    “Bro, that’s a shame. Don’t say that again! I recommend don’t say that again. Not head movement, not knockout power, not technique. He’s just [starts imitating Holloway]. And I saw him working with the pads [imitates the challenger’s training clips]. Bro, what the f**k is this? Don’t do that”

    Topuria also brought up Holloway’s iconic knock-out of Gaethje at UFC 300. He recognized that the moment was amazing for fans but the final exchange had no technique and resembled a bar fight.

    As he’s said many times before, “El Matador” challenged the UFC veteran to stand and trade with him. He’s confident about getting the better of Holloway in such an exchange because of his superior technique and power.

    “The only thing excited [exciting] about that fight was the last 10 seconds, to be honest. I didn’t see any technique in that fight. I didn’t see any strategy, I didn’t see any f*****g thing. I just saw a bar fight, to be honest. It was very spectacular for the fans but for me, as a professional, it was a, I don’t know not something very impressive because you can impress everyone but you know the technique behind that knockout and it was zero.”

  • MMA Analyst Dismisses Ilia Topuria’s Champ-Champ Aspirations

    MMA Analyst Dismisses Ilia Topuria’s Champ-Champ Aspirations

    Ilia Topuria’s ambitions to compete in a potential ‘champ vs. champ’ showdown have intensified in recent weeks, but a popular MMA analyst doesn’t think now is the time for such a matchup.

    “El Matador” has continually expressed his eagerness to ascend a division and challenge the reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, in an exciting fight. However, before Topuria looks ahead, he is poised to make the first defense of his featherweight title against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308, scheduled for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

    Topuria’s excitement was palpable during a recent live stream on Instagram, where he enthusiastically answered a fan’s question about his ability to defeat Makhachev. The 27-year-old Spaniard confidently asserted that he could easily overcome Makhachev, stating that it would be the fight he would pursue after handling Holloway.

    However, Josh Thomson contends that “El Matador” is overly ambitious and should first concentrate on facing challengers in the 145-pound division…

    Thompson Advises Topuria To Focus On Featherweight Before Considering Move-Up

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, “Punk” delved into Topuria’s thoughts on moving up to the 155-pound division for a potential matchup with Makhachev. Thompson openly dismissed the featherweight champion’s ambitions, urging him to prioritize defending his title against Holloway first.

    “Younger guys like Ilia Topuria going, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to fight so and so up here,’” Thomson said. “I’m like, dude, you haven’t defended your title one time. You beat the guy coming off of a head-kick knockout. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. How about you defend it against Max, the fight I’m really excited for?”

    Thompson further emphasized that Topuria should concentrate on solidifying his standing in the featherweight division before calling out others. He also mentioned that “El Matador” might be seeking these high-profile matchups primarily for social media popularity.

    “Ilia Topuria needs to clear out the division. He’s fought a lot of guys in there, but there are still many opponents for him to face. He shouldn’t even be mentioning that; the UFC shouldn’t be entertaining that. This whole thing, I think, is about social media—swipe right, swipe left, up, down, real fast. I need self-gratification right now; that’s what they’re looking for: ‘what can I do to make the most money?’”

    Topuria captured the 145-pound title with a stunning second-round knockout of former champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. He remains undefeated in his seven Octagon appearances, with five of those victories coming by way of stoppage.

  • What’s Next After UFC 307? Full Confirmed UFC 308 Main Card For Abu Dhabi On Oct. 26

    What’s Next After UFC 307? Full Confirmed UFC 308 Main Card For Abu Dhabi On Oct. 26

    UFC 307 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Salt Lake City last week, where the Delta Center played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in the “Beehive State.” Of note were title fight wins for Alex Pereira and Julianna Peña, as well as important victories for Kayla Harrison and Joaquin Buckley.

    While the aftermath of the October 5 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the 145-pound championship conversation.

    At UFC 308, set for the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on October 26, reigning featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria will compete for the second time this year, this time in defense of gold. Following a knockout of Alexander Volkanovski to capture the crown, “El Matador” will next face the challenge of BMF titleholder Max Holloway.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker looks to continue his fine winning form in 2024. “The Reaper” is set for a second attempt at sharing the cage with Khamzat Chimaev following their canceled headliner in Saudi Arabia this past June.

    Ankalaev, Murphy, Magomedov Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 308

    Before Topuria defends his belt and Whittaker looks to secure a shot at regaining champ status in the Middle East, a number of other high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major card.

    That includes surging featherweight Lerone Murphy. Despite an impressive main event win over Edson Barboza earlier this year, “The Miracle” will be defending his #12 spot in the rankings against Dan Ige, who is returning for the first time since his same-day assignment opposite Diego Lopes this past June.

    Prior to that, Pereira’s next challenger at light heavyweight could be decided as #2-ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev shares the cage with the highly regarded Aleksandar Rakić

    And opening the main card will be a familiar face in the Middle East, Sharabutdin Magomedov. Two of “Bullet’s” Octagon wins have come in Abu Dhabi, with the other going down in Saudi Arabia. The Russian will make the walk inside Etihad Arena again on Oct. 26, this time to throw down with Armen Petrosyan.

    Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the welterweight clash between ex-lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos and Geoff Neal, which is currently slated to top the preliminary portion of the event.

    See below for the full UFC 308 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker vs. Max Holloway
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
    • Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić
    • Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Rębecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai
    • Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Santos
    • Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Justin Tafa
    • Bantamweight: Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
    • Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
    • Middleweight: Bruno Silva vs. Ismail Naurdiev
    • Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira
    Magomed Ankalaev
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Max Holloway Projects Khalil Rountree To Stop Alex Pereira’s Leg Kicks In Jon Jones Style At UFC 307

    Max Holloway Projects Khalil Rountree To Stop Alex Pereira’s Leg Kicks In Jon Jones Style At UFC 307

    The hype for UFC 307 headlining Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree is steadily rising as the event approaches. Although it is also being called a mismatch because of rankings, the possibility of witnessing a huge upset has many fans on the edge of their seats.

    Underdogs have performed significantly well against UFC champions lately. Be it Leon Edwards against Kamaru Usman, Belal Muhammad against Edwards, or Sean Strickland against Israel Adesanya, there are plenty of recent examples where viewers were shocked by how a fight played out.

    To pull off an upset at UFC 307, Rountree will likely have to deal with Pereira’s leg kicks that have troubled all his past opponents. According to Max Holloway, here’s how the title challenger will avoid getting his legs compromised by the champion…

    Max Holloway Claims Khalil Rountree Has The Tools To Stop Alex Pereira’s Leg Kicks At UFC 307

    Holloway discussed the UFC 307 main event on his YouTube channel recently. “Blessed” believes the Brazilian to be an unstoppable force at light heavyweight and is curious to see whether the latter can break Ronda Rousey’s record for the shortest time between three UFC title defenses.

    Despite understanding why “Poatan” is a huge favorite, Holloway pointed out that the UFC 307 main event could be a much closer fight than it seems. Rountree’s losses to Ion Cuțelaba and Johnny Walker have naturally hurt his brand, but Holloway still considers him a threat.

    “We saw Khalil Rountree. We saw his ups and downs, his losses. He did lose to some guys that he should have probably never lost to but this, this mother sucker brother, he’s an animal bro. He’s just violence bro. And these two guys is just going to be, it’s going to be a violent fight bro. The biggest question is, it’s going to be, I already know what Khalil is going to do. I tell you guys this much, Khalil Rountree is going to try and stop Alex’s leg kick with that front, like, oblique kick. I’m telling you, the one that he’s done, stomped that guy’s knee out of his socket.”

    While predicting the fight to be violent, Holloway mentioned Rountree’s ability to throw dangerous oblique kicks. “The War Horse” started his ongoing five-fight win streak in the UFC by breaking Modestas Bukauskas’ knee with a perfectly executed oblique kick. The fight had to be stopped instantly as it was evident Bukauskas had a displaced knee.

    The former UFC featherweight champion believes that such perfectly timed oblique kicks could be game-changing for Rountree at UFC 307. Jon Jones has popularized this controversial yet effective move over the years. The light heavyweight GOAT has bothered most of his opponents with it, including Quinton Jackson, Alexander Gustafsson, and Thiago Santos.

    Will Rountree surprise Pereira with the kickboxing tools in his arsenal or “Poatan” knock out the challenger cold with ease yet again at UFC 307?

  • UFC Featherweight On How Ego Can Affect Topuria vs Holloway: ‘Max Knows Better…’

    UFC Featherweight On How Ego Can Affect Topuria vs Holloway: ‘Max Knows Better…’

    The main event of UFC 308 is one of the year’s biggest and best fights as the featherweight title is on the line in Abu Dhabi.

    Undefeated champion Ilia Topuria has smashed his way through this division whilst facing very little adversity coming back the other way.

    After stopping Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year, he now faces the other all-time great 145-pounder of this era in Max Holloway.

    Holloway likely would have reigned as the champion for a long time if it wasn’t for Volkanovski, when you look at his record.

    Now we will find out whether “Blessed” can regain the gold against a dangerous but less experienced opponent.

    Jonathan Pearce Believes That Max Holloway’s Experience May Be Crucial

    There weren’t any signs in Topuria’s title-winning performance that he was suffering from a lack of experience, even if he can get heated on fight week.

    UFC featherweight Jonathan Pearce believes that Holloway’s decision-making could be a defining factor in this fight because he knows when to engage with Topuria and when to stay on the outside.

    “Blessed” has been known to throw caution to the wind from time to time but as we saw at UFC 300, he’s at home in the chaos.

    When asked whether he thinks these two men will be able to replicate something similar to this iconic moment from earlier this year, Pearce gave this response.

    “I think so but I don’t think Topuria’s ready for that. I think he can hang with it for a while but I think he doesn’t have the experience that Max has if that happens. I think that Max knows better than to step in sometimes. He won’t let his ego get in control where you got a younger fighter that just needs to believe in himself.”

    Pearce is set to face Pat Sabatini on October 12 at the UFC Apex.

    Read also: ‘Selfish’ UFC Told To Financially Compensate Michael Chandler For Conor McGregor Wait

  • ‘Max Holloway Forever A Legend’ – MMA Fans React As ‘Blessed’ Speaks Out Against Gun Violence

    ‘Max Holloway Forever A Legend’ – MMA Fans React As ‘Blessed’ Speaks Out Against Gun Violence

    Max Holloway recently garnered widespread fan admiration after making a heartfelt plea to end gun violence, offering a unique suggestion to tackle the serious issue.

    “Blessed” is preparing for his third crack at featherweight gold as he challenges reigning champion Ilia Topuria in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 308, set for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    Holloway is a proud native of Hawaii and consistently bears the mantle of his home state with him wherever he goes. He’s fiercely devoted to the causes of the “Aloha State”, and his deep-rooted dedication to Hawaii and its people is unmistakable.

    Whether it’s partnering with the UFC to establish a fitness clubhouse for the youth in Waianae or passionately advocating for support and raising funds during the devastating 2023 wildfires on the island of Maui, “Blessed” has consistently shown a deep emotional connection and commitment to the native Hawaiian community.

    MMA Fans Applaud Holloway’s Resolute Position Against Gun Violence In Hawaii

    During an interview with KHON2 News on Tuesday, Holloway addressed the recent series of shooting incidents in Waianae. The BMF titleholder strongly condemned the growing gun violence across the United States, urging people to resolve their conflicts in a boxing gym instead of resorting to firearms.

    “It sucks, man. Put the gun down, boys. Put ‘em down. If you guys have a problem, do it the old-school way,” Holloway said. “Go to the boxing gym, put on some gloves, punch each other, shake hands, and be on with it.”

    “Blessed” went on to suggest that instead of turning to gun violence, people should channel their frustrations into something harmless, like playing video games.

    The MMA community responded to Holloway’s remarks with a wave of support, widely praising the UFC superstar for his unconventional and thoughtful suggestions.

    One fan embraced Holloway’s notion, stating that guns never solve any problems and only create more chaos.

    “Holloway is on point. You never settle a dispute with a gun. It’s not worth ending a life and ruining your own.”

    Another fan jokingly remarked that Holloway is the only fighter capable of simultaneously holding both the “Baddest Motherf**ker” and the “Nicest Motherf**ker” titles.

    “Max the only fighter that can hold the BMF and NMF belt simultaneously.”

    https://twitter.com/GWAPO42/status/1837029701384294417

    One fan remarked that “Blessed” is a true treasure for the people of Hawaii.

    “Good to see Max being a benefit to his community. Hope he beats Topuria.”

    https://twitter.com/nickgunter21/status/1837055343701934573

    One fan playfully suggested that Holloway should throw his hat into the ring for the U.S. presidency.

    “Max Holloway for POTUS 2025.”

    “Max Holloway is forever a legend. Gangster move.”

    “Max out here doing the Lord’s work.”

    “Spoken like a true man.”

    “What a natural-born leader this guy is. Much respect.”

    “Because people are soft now and scared to lose a fistfight.”