Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway get heated in pre-fight interview

UFC 308 is true across the nook, and the headliners Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway are itching to step into the cage to settle issues for the featherweight title.

The undefeated champion Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is assured he is not going to solely retain his gold, but additionally grow to be the primary to complete former champ Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) by knockout.

The battle goes down in the primary occasion of UFC 308 on Oct. 26 at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi. Whereas there are nonetheless two weeks earlier than they will get their fingers on one another, that hasn’t stopped them from hurling verbal jabs at each other.

“You already know the way it feels to bounce again,” Topuria mentioned to Holloway in a pre-fight interview moderated by Brendan Fitzgerald. “You have already got seven skilled defeats. I’ve zero. So, you’re going to do it as soon as once more rather well, I don’t have any doubts about that. You’re a nice instance of that.”

The interview started with respectful but sarcastic banter, however with every alternate, the sarcasm grew till full-on insults have been spewed.

“I took lots of people’s doughnuts, bro,” Holloway replied. “I hope you want churros since you’re about to get one come Oct. 26, buddy.”

Topuria dismissed Holloway, and claimed he’ll grow to be the primary particular person to knock out the previous featherweight champion, whose solely stoppage loss got here by submission to Dustin Poirier at UFC 143 in 2012.

“The one factor I’m going to do is take your lights out and social gathering with all my individuals, all my workforce. That’s what I’m going to do,” Topuria mentioned. “And Nonetheless. That is what’s going to occur.

“… I don’t have any doubts that I would be the first one to knock you out. I don’t even need you to belief in that as a result of should you’re beginning to belief in what I’m saying, you’re not going to point out up, and I would like you to point out up for the battle.”

Topuria defined his confidence comes from finding out the division’s greats earlier than him, together with Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway. Topuria knocked out the previous in his final battle at UFC 298, ending the previous champion within the second spherical.

Holloway enters this title alternative coming off a Knockout of the 12 months contender at UFC 300, when he violently slept Justin Gaethje with one second left on the clock after pointing to the bottom, inviting him to commerce bombs till the ultimate horn.

Topuria was not impressed with that battle, nor the end. He even took it a step additional, issuing a problem to Holloway.

“Bro, I used to be so bored watching that battle,” Topuria mentioned. “The one factor thrilling about that battle was the final 10 seconds, to be sincere. However I didn’t see any method in that battle. I didn’t see any technique. I didn’t see any f*cking factor. I simply noticed a bar battle, to be sincere. It was very spectacular for the followers, however for me, as an expert, it was a – I don’t know. Not one thing very spectacular.

“I problem you to have that alternate within the first 10 seconds of the battle and you will notice what’s going to occur. Whenever you face a fighter like me contained in the octagon, who brings that method and that energy, you’ll be able to’t do this. I’m going to take your head off should you do this.”

Holloway laughed on the problem and mentioned Topuria wouldn’t do it as a result of he will get drained shortly. The recurring response from “Blessed” was to specific his pleasure for battle night time whereas repeating, “We’ll see,” and, “We’re going to seek out out,” in rebuttal to Topuria’s daring opinions.

Topuria claimed Holloway didn’t need to take the battle towards him and would have rathered face Michael Chandler, which prompted a fiery reply.

“You have been the primary man I requested for,” Holloway mentioned. “I mentioned I need Ilia Topuria. I need the best battle. I need Ilia Topuria. That’s what I mentioned.”