Dana White’s UFC pay-per-view events are incomplete without a touch of fashion. In the UFC, Venum is responsible for ensuring fighters sport a fresh look with maximum comfort, a tradition that has become part of the promotion. Fans witnessed this during UFC 306, held during Mexican Independence Day week, where the fight gear paid homage to Mexican culture with a striking Aztec-inspired design. Now, the UFC is set to repeat this tradition at the upcoming UFC 308, headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi.

Recently, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria’s custom fight shorts were revealed in a post by Spinnin Backfist on X, with the caption, “Oh my God, these shorts are incredible for Ilia!” The shorts, featuring red and yellow colors, closely resemble the Spanish flag, symbolizing ‘El Matador’s’ Spanish citizenship, which he obtained following his rise to the top of the featherweight division earlier this year.

Although of Georgian descent, Topuria was granted Spanish citizenship earlier this month, as announced by Pilar Alegría, Spain’s Minister of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports. At the same time, the Georgian Prime Minister confirmed that Ilia Topuria could retain his Georgian citizenship, allowing him to hold dual nationality.

After moving from Georgia to Spain, ‘El Matador’ is now back in action, where he will defend his title for the first time against BMF titleholder Max Holloway in what promises to be a grueling five-round battle. The stakes for this fight are already high, but the unveiling of Topuria’s fight shorts has sparked even greater anticipation, as seen in the comments. Let’s delve in and see what fans have to say.

Ilia Topuria’s custom shorts thrill fans ahead of UFC 308

Back in July, Ilia Topuria posted a picture of himself wearing black champion shorts, which resembled a photoshoot against a green screen backdrop. Supporters enthusiastically urged him to switch to the red shorts, referencing the red version of the Georgian flag. Yet, upon seeing the new version, Spanish fans couldn’t hold back their excitement in the comments.

One fan commended the UFC’s approach to custom shorts, stating, “Custom shorts are one of the best things the UFC has done in recent times, not gonna lie.” This sentiment was echoed by another fan who said, “Best custom shorts so far.” Additionally, one fan pointed out the resemblance between Topuria’s shorts and those worn by reigning UFC strawweight women’s champion Zhang Weili during her historic UFC 300 fight against Yan Xiaonan, stating, “Weili’s looked very similar, and everyone said they were basic red shorts.”

Furthermore, another fan couldn’t help but appreciate the UFC’s outfit partner, Venum, commenting, “Damn, the Venum team cooked!” The French-based sports apparel manufacturer has been working with the UFC since 2021, following the promotion’s contract with Reebok. Recently, both the UFC and Venum extended their partnership for another five years, ensuring fans will see more exciting designs in the future. This partnership is advantageous not only for the promotion but also for the fighters, as it appears to have significantly increased their pay scale.

As we sift through the comments, even more fans express their admiration for the Venum gear, with one commenting, “Wow, what great shorts! We’ll have so much aura when wearing them.” Now, all eyes are on the upcoming UFC 308, where featherweight king Ilia Topuria will jump into the fire against Max Holloway, whose short design is still kept a secret.

However, we can anticipate something special based on Holloway’s previous showcase of his magic in the floral custom shorts that highlight his Hawaiian roots. Who will you be rooting for Holloway or Topuria? Drop your opinion below!