Ilia Topuria scores third-round KO of Max Holloway at UFC 308

Ilia Topuria promised he would knock out Max Holloway, and he fulfilled that pledge with a surprising third-round KO in the principle occasion of UFC 308 at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

For weeks, the featherweight champion boasted that he could be the primary fighter to complete Holloway and beckoned for the Hawaiian to fulfill him within the middle of the Octagon for a brawl. Holloway relented, and the 2 engaged in a high-stakes boxing match the place Holloway’s quantity was matched by Topuria’s stress and energy.

It was a nip-and-tuck affair by two rounds as Holloway’s jab punctured the Spaniard’s protection. However Topuria’s velocity allowed him to roll in with energy photographs that obtained the BMF champion’s consideration.

Within the third spherical, Topuria (16-0) lastly obtained by and blasted Holloway (26-8) with a proper hand that put the previous champion on skates. Topuria gave chase and fired a blistering left hand that put Holloway on the canvas. Just a few follow-up strikes later and Topuria secured his first profitable title protection towards one of many best featherweights of all time.

“I do not know what to say beating a legend like Max Hollway,” Topuria mentioned. “I could not consider it. He’s the outdated era and I characterize the brand new era. I hope I might be a small portion of the instance he set for me.”

Topuria has now knocked out Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway in consecutive fights.

“He simply landed a shot and I suppose it damage way more than I assumed it did,” Holloway mentioned. “Hats off to him. No excuses. I went out right here and did my factor. He was simply the higher man tonight.”