October 23, 2024 9:30 am ET
ABU DHABI – Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has a difficulty with Max Holloway calling himself the most effective boxer within the UFC.
Undefeated Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) will look to make his first title protection towards former champ Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 308 most important 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 in every of his most spectacular profession performances in January 2021. Topuria didn’t model himself as the most effective however thinks Holloway is thought extra for his general hanging than boxing particularly.
“In actuality, he’s striker,” Topuria instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “It’s not solely boxer as a result of calling himself the most effective boxer within the UFC is sort of a disgrace, as a result of he’s not the most effective boxer within the UFC, however he’s striker. He has lots 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 will not be placing the stress on him. So, on Saturday evening, he’s going to really feel one thing that he’s by no means felt with another opponents that he had up to now. The stress he’s going to really feel with me goes to be fully totally different.” Topuria mentioned he represents the brand new wave of expertise in MMA whereas Holloway hasn’t developed in years.
“The best way I apply the strategies and the abilities to my opponent, the way in which I transfer my head, the way in which I dominate the octagon, that’s the distinction,” Topuria mentioned. “What evolution do you see in Max Holloway in each battle? Perhaps solely in hanging.
“However you don’t see him getting higher in wrestling or on the bottom, you don’t see him making an attempt 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 sport, every thing.”
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