Ilia Topuria’s got his eyes set on Max Holloway. And why wouldn’t he? After Holloway’s electric show at UFC 300, the buzz is real.
Holloway, stepping up a weight class, took on Justin Gaethje. The odds? Not in his favor. But, boy, did he prove everyone wrong. Knocking Gaethje out as the clock ticked down, Holloway snagged both the “Fight of the Night” and “Performance of the Night” awards. Oh, and did I mention the prize money was bumped to a cool $300,000 each? Yeah, that happened.
So, Topuria, fresh off his win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, had been throwing names around. Islam Makhachev, Conor McGregor, even Khabib Nurmagomedov. But now? He’s sure. Holloway is the one he wants to face next.
“It’s clear for me, my next fight is against Max Holloway,” Topuria spilled to ESPN Deportes. He threw in a congrats but didn’t miss the chance to tell Holloway he’d be “going back in the line” after their fight.
Holloway’s response? Cool as ever. At the post-fight presser, he acknowledged Topuria’s callout. “That’s cool,” he said, playing it smooth. “What do you want me to say?” Holloway’s got questions, and he’s all ears. But he’s also hinting at answers we’ll all see if this fight gets booked. Excited? You bet he is.
And there you have it. A potential featherweight title clash that’s got everyone talking. Will it happen? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – the MMA world is buzzing with anticipation.