ABU DHABI – Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has an issue with Max Holloway calling himself the best boxer in the UFC.
Undefeated Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) will look to make his first title defense against former champ Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 308 main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi (pay-per-view, ESPN+).
Holloway famously shouted that he’s the best boxer in the UFC while piecing up Calvin Kattar in one of his most impressive career performances in January 2021. Topuria didn’t brand himself as the best but thinks Holloway is known more for his overall striking than boxing specifically.
“In reality, he’s a good striker,” Topuria told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “It’s not only boxer because calling himself the best boxer in the UFC is kind of a shame, because he’s not the best boxer in the UFC, but he’s a good striker. He has a lot of experience. He’s very patient inside the octagon.
“But everyone is good when they can develop their style in the octagon and someone is not putting the pressure on him. So, on Saturday night, he’s going to feel something that he’s never felt with any other opponents that he had in the past. The pressure he’s going to feel with me is going to be completely different.”
Topuria said he represents the new wave of talent in MMA whereas Holloway hasn’t evolved in years.
“The way I apply the techniques and the skills to my opponent, the way I move my head, the way I dominate the octagon, that’s the difference,” Topuria said. “What evolution do you see in Max Holloway in every fight? Maybe only in striking.
“But you don’t see him getting better in wrestling or on the ground, you don’t see him trying to new things. Only in the striking. This is what I’m talking about. I try to evolve the game all the time, not only in the striking. With the wrestling, the ground game, everything.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
