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

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 Enviornment in Abu Dhabi (pay-per-view, ESPN+).

Topuria has made some bold statements and never minced phrases with regards to Holloway. Nonetheless, “Blessed” is unfazed by the trash speak.

“I’m extra confused about every part he’s saying,” Holloway instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “He’s speaking about me not eager to struggle, me being compelled to struggle. He bought me out right here feeling like how he taken care of my Gaethje struggle, so it’s loopy.

“His thoughts could be very fascinating. But when that’s what it takes to be one of the best model of himself come Saturday night time then so be it. He can speak all that speak he desires 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 recreation by pointing to the middle of the octagon for a throwdown within the first 10 seconds of the struggle. Holloway isn’t shopping for Topuria’s declare and accuses “El Matador” of copying Conor McGregor’s persona.

“It simply is senseless,” Holloway mentioned. “To me, I don’t suppose he deserves – you’ve bought 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 bought to earn that second, and I consider he might have earned it with Josh Emmett.

“Of their five-round struggle, Josh Emmett was making an attempt to swing. In the event you guys return to that struggle and watch what occurred, when Josh Emmett tried to swing, somebody shot, and somebody held somebody down for the remainder of the struggle. 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.