September 18, 2024 8:30 pm ET
Max Holloway thinks the UFC purposely prevented matching him up with Ilia Topuria till now.
Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) challenges featherweight champion Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) within the UFC 308 fundamental occasion Oct. 26 at Etihad Enviornment in Abu Dhabi. Topuria defeated Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett to earn his title shot in opposition to then-champion Alexander Volkanovski, whom he knocked out to claim the belt at UFC 298. In the meantime, Holloway knocked off high contenders Calvin Kattar, Yair Rodriguez and Arnold Allen.
Holloway believes the UFC was defending Topuria from him.
“Lots of people are giving Ilia warmth for the power of his schedule that he needed to the title struggle, however he did what he was speculated to do. He gained,” Holloway stated on his YouTube channel.
“He beat a man (Volkanovski) that I had thrice to beat, and he did it. He had the shot, however I consider that the UFC made me struggle each different contender at ’45 for a cause. We’re right here now, and I’m going to show, come Oct. 26, why the UFC was shelling him away from me.” Holloway defended his featherweight title thrice till he bumped into Volkanovski. After three losses to Volkanovski, many thought Holloway would by no means be within the title image once more.
“Having the profession I had of being at ’45 for endlessly, I bought to struggle the outdated technology guys, and now Ilia is taken into account one of many new technology guys,” Holloway stated. “I’m excited to go on the market and present that I’m nonetheless right here. I’m nonetheless part of this new technology. I’m solely 32. I flip 33 in December. Sky’s the restrict.”
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