Max Holloway mocks Ilia Topuria’s calls for for potential battle; Topuria responds

Max Holloway epitomized your entire motive the UFC created a “BMF” title when he marched to the middle of the octagon, pointed to the ground, and invited Justin Gaethje to throw down with him till the ultimate horn of their battle at UFC 300.

With solely 10 seconds remaining till a assured victory on the scorecards, Holloway nonetheless risked all of it by buying and selling bombs with Gaethje, which really resulted in one of many best knockouts in UFC historical past after the Hawaiian face-planted the previous interim light-weight champion with one second left on the clock. As a result of he was prepared to take such a danger, Holloway appears to know the entire concept behind calling your self the “baddest motherf*****” within the sport, however he’s not getting those self same vibes from Ilia Topuria.

On Wednesday throughout an look on The MMA Hour, Topuria acknowledged that he was solely thinking about dealing with Holloway subsequent if he put the “BMF” title up for grabs, as a result of in any other case “I don’t need him in any respect.” In response, Holloway says that simply proves that possibly Topuria isn’t prepared to really compete for that title, as a result of making these sorts of calls for doesn’t actually match with the “BMF” mentality.

“That’s not a really ‘BMF’ technique to say it,” Holloway informed Jim Rome. “A ‘BMF’ wouldn’t say, ‘I’m not going to battle this man until …’ That’s type of un-‘BMF.’ Doesn’t sound ‘BMF’ the way in which he’s attempting to demand it and saying, ‘I’m not going to battle.’

“A ‘BMF’ fights no matter, fights whoever, at any time when, any weight, any time, and that’s not a tone of a ‘BMF.’”

Whereas Holloway stays adamant that he’ll finally battle whoever UFC throws at him subsequent, a showdown with Topuria nonetheless tops his personal private wish-list.

He acknowledged simply after reserving the Gaethje battle that he all the time envisioned reclaimed the featherweight title, which he beforehand held by way of three title defenses from 2017-19.

So as to add to that, Topuria dethroning Volkanovski to turn out to be champion made Holloway’s path again to the belt that a lot simpler after dropping to Volkanovski three earlier occasions.

However Holloway finally doesn’t thoughts if he goes by way of Topuria after which runs it again with Volkanovski for a fourth time, as a result of that’s simply what an actual “BMF” would do.

“That was all the time my important objective. My important objective was all the time preventing Ilia,” Holloway mentioned. “This was a enjoyable battle. Shout out to Justin Gaethje. Justin Gaethje’s a legend, ‘The Spotlight,’ he had every part to lose. He gave me the shot and this occurred. However in my thoughts it was all the time, it doesn’t matter what, win, lose, no matter it’s, even till immediately, I needed to battle Ilia.

“Individuals all the time ask me, ‘What are your ideas on Ilia?’ The one factor that involves my thoughts is it’s questionable. The dude is tremendous questionable. Each different 145 contender that they needed to battle [Alexander Volkanovski], they went by way of me. They fought me or they needed to battle me. That’s one man that eluded me. I don’t know the way, I don’t know why, however he did and he obtained the title shot.”

Holloway praised Topuria for dethroning Volkanovski with a brutal knockout to turn out to be champion again in February at UFC 298.

That being mentioned, Holloway nonetheless despatched a not-so-subtle historical past lesson to Topuria when it comes time to match their résumés in opposition to one another.

“He beat a man I couldn’t determine,” Holloway mentioned of Topuria vs. Volkanovski. “He fought the man as soon as, I fought the man 3 times, and I noticed him say that slick stuff took him 9 minutes for what took me 90 minutes and I couldn’t do it. One thing loopy like that.

“That’s humorous. Final time I checked, once I was your age, I already had title defenses, buddy. So it seems to be such as you’ve nonetheless obtained some catching as much as do.”

As a lot as Topuria stays the highest possibility for Holloway, Holloway isn’t precisely married to the matchup, particularly with a number of different potential fights accessible to him.

He may stick round at the next weight class and await the prospect to face Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler after they meet within the UFC 303 important occasion. Holloway may additionally probably pursue a title shot at light-weight with Islam Makhachev, who’s set to defend his belt in opposition to Dustin Poirier at UFC 301 in June.

No matter finally ends up occurring, Holloway has no complaints, as a result of that wouldn’t be very changing into of a real “BMF” champion.

“There’s choices. Particularly on this sport, it’s all the time nice to have choices,” Holloway mentioned. “I’m ranked at the next weight class now. I’ve obtained my weight class at [145] sitting proper there, knocking on the door. Conor’s coming again. Ilia’s there, Islam’s there. Dustin’s preventing Islam. It needs to be enjoyable.

“Like I’ve been saying, that [145] title’s what I would like. I would like it again. However no matter method the UFC desires to push me, they’re going to push me. I’m ready. I’m all ears.”

Replace: Topuria responded to Holloway on X, revealing Brian Ortega may get the shot over Holloway.