Max Holloway Believes A Fight Against Ilia Topuria Is Inevitable
The UFC featherweight division was shuffled when Ilia Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to win the title. The new champion needs contenders and former champion Max Holloway is expecting to get a title fight. It may not take place soon, but he calls the bout inevitable.
Holloway spoke on a potential featherweight title fight against Topuria in an interview with Brett Okamoto for ESPN MMA.
“Oh, 100 percent,” Holloway said when asked if a fight against Topuria is inevitable. “He likes to talk a lot. I like to listen; and when it’s time, it’s time. He is going to have to see me sooner or later. Like I said, there was a reason why the UFC didn’t want him to fight me. They made all these other contenders coming up fight me, Yair (Rodriguez), Arnold Allen, whoever, you can keep naming them. Why did Ilia not come up? Then he gets a title fight after Josh Emmett- a guy who just lost to the champion. MMA math is confusing as hell sometimes, but it just made no sense to me.
Holloway has been sensational in the featherweight division. The only featherweight to beat him in the last decade has been Volkanovski. The fact that Holloway was unable to get over the hump against Volkanovski made him a test for rising contenders. A win over Holloway would have earned any of them title opportunities; however, none of them got the job done. That included Yair Rodriguez, Arnold Allen, and Calvin Kattar.
The fact that Holloway was not used to measure Topuria during his rise makes a fight between the two logical. It is a fresh matchup that the fans would love. At the same time, Topuria would be given a ton of respect if he can add Holloway’s name to his resume. That would be the beginning of an outstanding championship tenure.
It does not seem like Holloway is in a rush to get back down to featherweight, however. At UFC 300, “Blessed” will fight Justin Gaethje for BMF Title. That fight will play a large role in Holloway’s future. A win would give appealing fights in the lightweight division.
Regardless of when a fight between Holloway and Topuria takes place, it is a fight that needs to happen. Holloway seemingly agrees with that sentiment.
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