Whe͏͏n͏ Ilia Topuria  ͏defea͏t͏ed ͏Ale͏xa͏n͏der Volkanov͏ski ͏͏t͏o͏ cl͏in͏ch ͏the͏ ͏͏f͏͏e͏ather͏͏weig͏͏ht tit͏l͏͏e͏, he mad͏e ͏͏it c͏le͏͏ar that ͏h͏e wou͏͏l͏d no͏t ͏͏g͏͏ive Max͏ ͏͏Hollow͏a͏y a chan͏͏ce ͏t͏o fight f͏or i͏͏t, citin͏g ͏H͏͏olloway͏͏’s a͏ge a͏͏s a ke͏y͏͏ f͏actor.͏ H͏owever͏,͏ ͏w͏hen͏ ‘͏Bles͏s͏e͏d͏͏’͏ s͏tunn͏e͏d ͏͏͏͏t͏he͏͏͏͏ w͏͏orld ͏͏a͏t ͏UF͏C͏͏ 300 b͏y defeating J͏͏us͏t͏in ͏͏Ga͏ethje, ͏he ca͏lled o͏͏͏u͏͏t ‘͏͏El͏͏ Mat͏ador’ for ͏a c͏l͏ash͏.͏ T͏he champ i͏mme͏͏di͏͏a͏t͏e͏ly ac͏͏͏c͏͏e͏pte͏͏d͏ ͏the͏ ch͏͏͏al͏leng͏e,͏ ͏͏show͏i͏n͏g ͏r͏͏e͏͏͏spe͏ct͏͏͏͏ ͏for H͏͏ol͏loway’s i͏͏mp͏͏r͏essiv͏e ͏͏v͏icto͏ry͏. As he accepted the battle call, the community advised Topuria to not fight Holloway in the middle of the canvas but the Gerogian-Spanish fighter had some other thoughts.

Max Holloway’s impressive last-second buzzer-beater knockout victory against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 was the highlight of the year and this has raised immense concern for the featherweight champion who looked visibly terrified as he witnessed it live. However, is Topuria fazed by it? While in conversation with Ariel Helwani, Topuria asserted that he would go for that exact same move at the start of the match.

“First 10 seconds, I’m gonna point to the middle of the octagon, and I will stay there. I want to give the best and the most exciting 10 seconds in UFC history to the fans because they deserve it. If he stays in the middle, I promise I’m going to knock him out. I’m going to take his head off,” said Ilia Topuria. Well, not only that, the featherweight champ emphasized that Holloway is immensely scared of fighting him and he might duck the fight to fight in the lightweight division.

“Yeah, he was avoiding to fight me all the time. He said something like, ‘no, I said to the UFC I want the easiest fight, I want to fight with Ilia Topuria’. That’s a lie. A challenger never chooses his fights. Never. I’m the champion. I choose who I want to fight next and I said I want to fight Max Holloway. And they told me he’s asking to stay in the 155 [pound] division to fight with Michael Chandler,” said Topuria. Nevertheless, these confessions by the featherweight champ have been taken into cognizance by the MMA community who called him out for being a bit over-confident.

Ilia Topuria faces backlash from fans after attack on Max Holloway backfires

Ili͏a T͏opur͏ia ͏and C͏ono͏r Mc͏Gregor͏‘s stori͏es ͏seem͏ ͏to run parall͏el, eve͏n in th͏e͏ U͏FC 298 pre-fig͏ht pr͏ess confer͏e͏nce. Topu͏ria grabbe͏d Alexander ͏Volkanovski’s belt in͏ a manner reminiscent of ͏how McG͏regor took Jo͏s͏e Aldo’s belt before their f͏i͏gh͏t. Topuri͏a exudes a͏ strong Conor McGregor vibe, but the question ͏re͏mains—will he live up to the same standards?

When you don’t build your character and instead become the shadow of a former great, people begin to have diverging opinions about you, even if you’re a champion. Conor McGregor created his own legacy by introducing despicable trash talk to the game, but when Topuria tries to do the same, it feels like he’s just imitating McGregor, or at least that’s what the fans can discern.

Max Holloway has decades of experience behind his back to not fall for any of the antics thrown by the new champion. The BMF champion understands that for him to gain the victory he would have to stretch the match till the final bell.

Furthermore, more fans come forward to call out Ilia Topuria as having a unique personality rather than hanging upon McGregor’s personality.

The fight between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway went all the way to the final second of the last round. It was an absolute banger and could very well be the highlight of the year. Many fans believe their rematch should also go the distance.

Last but not least, Ilia Topuria has been warned by the fans to not underestimate Max Hollowayy’s kicking prowess despite him being one of the best boxers under the promotion.

With just days remaining for their fight to happen, banter between the fighters is intensifying. Regardless, what’s your take on the fight? Who do you think will be the champion? State your thoughts in the comments below.