UFC featherweight king Ilia Topuria further cemented his claim as the best 145fer in the world when he extended his winning streak to 16 overall by slaying the current BMF title holder, Max Holloway in a grueling three-round battle. Moreover, the Spanish-Georgian became the first to bulldozer his way through Holloway’s legendary chin and knock him out cold, leaving fans and fighters like Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley in awe. O’Malley praised Topuria’s boxing prowess, even labeling him “a little Alex Pereira.”

Now, a couple of days after the fight, Ilia Topuria took to Instagram to thank his fans for their support in Spanish. He wrote, “I said it, and I did it. The first to knock him out 16-0 AND STILL UNDEFEATED 🌹 Thanks to everyone for the support 🙏🏻”

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Is Ilia Topuria the next big thing in the UFC featherweight division?

Absolutely, he's unstoppable

Not yet, he needs more big wins

He's good, but not the best

I'm not convinced

Is Rachel Zegler's behavior to blame for the Snow White movie's failure?

Yes, she hurt the film

No, it's not her fault

Partially, but there are other factors

I haven't seen the movie

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Who do you think will emerge victorious if Ilia Topuria faces Islam Makhachev in the Octagon?

Topuria's knockout power

Makhachev's ground game

Too close to call

Neither, it's all hype

Who should Dustin Poirier face in his final fight?

Max Holloway for a trilogy

Justin Gaethje for a fan-favorite spectacle

Ilia Topuria for a fresh challenge

Someone else entirely

Do you believe Conor McGregor will actually retire from MMA, or is this just another publicity stunt?

He's retiring for real

It's just a stunt

He'll be back eventually

Not sure

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Ilia Topuria’s explosive performance has garnered admiration not only from MMA fighters but also from veterans like Chael Sonnen, who referred to this victory against Max Holloway as the end of an era for fighters like Alexander Volkanovski and the Hawaaian juggernaut himself. However, Volkanovski still has a chance to settle accounts with Topuria.

Following the fight, Topuria humbly acknowledged his rival, Max Holloway, and reiterated his status as an all-time great. When asked about the possibility of facing ‘Volk’ in a rematch. He stated, “If anyone deserves it, it’s him,” a sentiment that has garnered approval from UFC head honcho Dana White. However, after the fight, Topuria seemed more inclined towards his idol-turned-rival, Conor McGregor.

Ilia Topuria issues a warning to Conor McGregor

Ilia Topuria finally delivered on his promise, showcasing a meteoric performance against Max Holloway that proves why he deserves to be the UFC featherweight king. However, this victory is difficult for former featherweight champion Conor McGregor to accept, especially with the ongoing back-and-forth between the two. Without any reluctance, McGregor declared himself the true king of the featherweights. So how much longer will ‘El Matador’ avoid confronting McGregor, whom he has previously labeled as a representative of “alcohol and dr-gs“?

Recently, Topuria expressed his thoughts on McGregor while speaking to ESPN, just after his first title defense. He stated, “I don’t know what to say. He’s fake; he fakes the comeback every time. He insults everyone in the UFC. He’s like, ‘I don’t care about anyone, I don’t respect anyone.’ Bro, you’re sick. You have some problems to fix in your mind. You need to take some classes on respect or change the people around you because you’re gonna end up really, really bad.”

What are your thoughts on Ilia Topuria‘s win over Max Holloway? What do you envision for Topuria’s future in the UFC? Do you believe he will establish a legacy similar to that of legends Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, who have already secured their places in history? Drop your opinion below.