On October 26 at UFC 308, Ilia Topuria will mark the first time that the fighter will defend his UFC featherweight belt that he won after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski. And he will do so against Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi. The fight has picked up traction after recent exchanges between the two fighters got heated.

A few days ago, former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway raised his voice about his upcoming matchup against Ilia Topuria. He suggested that the promotion had been “bombarding” the young fighter away from him for reasons that are still unclear. At a recent press conference, the former featherweight king expressed his perception that the UFC has made him fight almost every other contender in the 145-pound division except Topuria. This has piqued his curiosity and speculation about Topuria being shielded from Blessed.

The Spanish-Georgian fighter, who is busy promoting his film ‘Topuria: El Matador,’ has come up with a reply that will answer any questions that Holloway might’ve had about Topuria’s capability. He immediately shut down suggestions stating that the UFC was protecting him by granting him favorable matchups.

He said, “It’s going to be like everyone else. As soon as he starts to really fight me and start exchanging blows, that’s the end of the fight. Nobody can exchange blows with me, not only because of my power but because of the technique I apply to each movement. They don’t see me coming. The changes of pace that I introduce are something that they are not used to, you know? They are not used to the game I propose.” 

Holloway, known for his dynamic fighting style and tenacity in the octagon, has been a mainstay in the featherweight division for years. With an impressive career that includes multiple defenses of his featherweight gold, he’s eager to prove that he still belongs in the division’s elite. El Matador, meanwhile, has quickly gained recognition for his skill in both striking and wrestling, and many see him as one of the division’s future stars. However, facing a veteran like Holloway represents a significant challenge and a turning point in his career. Nevertheless, according to Holloway, Topuria’s just a fan.

Max Holloway labels the featherweight champion as his secret admirer

The scheduled fight promises to be a clash of styles and generations, where Holloway will seek to reaffirm his status and Topuria will try to prove that he can compete with the best. The date is approaching, and tension and anticipation continue to grow around this crucial matchup in the featherweight division. Topuria tried to intensify things further by constantly calling Holloway an easy fight. He even predicted an early finish to round off a perfect title defense.

However, during an interview with ESPN, Blessed revealed that he believes Topuria is just a fan. “I think he’s a fan of me, and I think he can’t deny it. I think deep down inside, he’s really cheering for me, which is kind of weird, but he’s an odd fella. He’s an odd fella for sure.” Well, it looks like Holloway would like to let his fists do the talking for him. However, El Matador surely would not be an easy one to overcome. What do you think? Will Topuria be able to make it an easy win for him, or will we see a new champion at UFC 308? Let us know in the comments.