Ilia Topuria promised he would knock out Max Holloway, and he fulfilled that pledge with a stunning third-round knockout in the main event of UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
For weeks, the Spaniard boasted that he would be the first fighter to finish Holloway and beckoned for the Hawaiian to meet him in the center of the Octagon for a brawl. Holloway relented, and the two engaged in a high-stakes boxing match where Holloway’s volume was matched by Topuria’s pressure and power.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair through two rounds as Holloway’s jab punctured Topuria’s defense. But Topuria’s speed allowed him to roll in with power shots that got the BMF champion’s attention.
In the third round, Topuria (16-0) finally got through and blasted Holloway (26-8) with a right hand that put the former champion on skates. Topuria gave chase and fired a blistering left hand that put Holloway on the canvas. A few follow-up strikes later and Topuria secured his first successful title defense against one of the greatest featherweights of all time.
“I don’t know what to say beating a legend like Max Hollway,” Topuria said. “I couldn’t believe it. He is the old generation and I represent the new generation. I hope I will be a small portion of the example he set for me.”
Topuria has now knocked out Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway in consecutive fights.
“He just landed a shot and I guess it hurt much more than I thought it did,” Holloway said. “Hats off to him. No excuses. I went out here and did my thing. He was just the better man tonight.”
