October 23, 2024 9:30 am ET
ABU DHABI – Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has a difficulty with Max Holloway calling himself the perfect boxer within the UFC.
Undefeated Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) will look to make his first title protection in opposition to former champ Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 308 principal occasion at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi (pay-per-view, ESPN+).
Holloway famously shouted that he’s the best boxer in the UFC while piecing up Calvin Kattar in one among his most spectacular profession performances in January 2021. Topuria didn’t model himself as the perfect however thinks Holloway is understood extra for his general hanging than boxing particularly.
“In actuality, he’s striker,” Topuria advised MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “It’s not solely boxer as a result of calling himself the perfect boxer within the UFC is sort of a disgrace, as a result of he’s not the perfect boxer within the UFC, however he’s striker. He has quite a lot of expertise. He’s very affected person contained in the octagon.
“However everybody is nice once they can develop their type within the octagon and somebody just isn’t placing the stress on him. So, on Saturday night time, he’s going to really feel one thing that he’s by no means felt with some other opponents that he had prior to now. The stress he’s going to really feel with me goes to be fully completely different.” Topuria stated he represents the brand new wave of expertise in MMA whereas Holloway hasn’t advanced in years.
“The way in which I apply the methods and the talents to my opponent, the way in which I transfer my head, the way in which I dominate the octagon, that’s the distinction,” Topuria stated. “What evolution do you see in Max Holloway in each battle? Possibly solely in hanging.
“However you don’t see him getting higher in wrestling or on the bottom, you don’t see him attempting to new issues. Solely within the hanging. That is what I’m speaking about. I attempt to evolve the sport on a regular basis, not solely within the hanging. With the wrestling, the bottom recreation, all the things.”
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