Ilia Topuria claims Max Holloway rejected title fight citing TWO REASONS; wants someone to step in at UFC 308

Ilia Topuria claims Max Holloway stalling first featherweight title defense.

Ilia Topuria claims Max Holloway rejected title fight citing TWO REASONS; wants someone to step in at UFC 308

Ilia Topuria on Max Holloway (Image via Imago)

It has been a while since Ilia Topuria became the new UFC featherweight champion. However, the Spaniard has not fought his first title defense yet. While everyone has pointed fingers at Topuria for turning down matchups, ‘El Matador’ has something different to say, especially about BMF, Max Holloway.

Ilia Topuria recently did an interview with Carlos Contreras Legaspi from Marca. During their discussion, the featherweight champion revealed his prospective fight this October. After having turned down everybody in the division, ‘El Matador’ claimed he was waiting for someone to step up.

I’m aiming for Abu Dhabi. I hope someone steps in. I prefer to fight prime time in Spain.
Ilia Topuria via Marca

But why has Ilia Topuria not picked up a fight with Max Holloway? Topuria told Legaspi that he should ask Holloway. According to the featherweight champion, Holloway first said he needed time to make weight. Later it became some “family stuff” that he had to attend.

FS Video

Many names claim in public that they want to fight the featherweight champion. ‘El Matador’ hopes someone can back up their words. Top probable contenders include Max Holloway, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, and former featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski. While it was assumed that Volkanovski would be the next likely contender to fight Topuria, the Australian reportedly is taking time off to recover from his back-to-back KO losses.

[related_conten] Related: “Got lucky against Volkanovski,” Ilia Topuria ‘scared’ of fighting Max Holloway, claims rival Paddy Pimblett [/related_content]

Max Holloway claims Ilia Topuria is lying

Ilia Topuria’s comments about Max Holloway stalling the fight went viral on social media. While fans sided with either party, Holloway came out with the alleged ‘truth’ stating that the ‘El Matador’ was straight-up lying. Topuria has long considered Holloway an easy fight for him. He even downplayed Holloway’s performance at UFC 300, where he received two 300k bonuses.

Ilia Topuria wants to knock out Max Holloway (via X)
Max Holloway claims Ilia Topuria is lying(via X)

Holloway sent out a tweet in response to Topuria’s comments on X. Retweeting ESPN MMA’s clip of the Topuria interview, the BMF attached a meme and wrote that the featherweight champion had been making things up at this stage. Holloway claimed that has been ready all this while.

Max Holloway last fought in April against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. With three back-to-back wins under his belt, the former featherweight champion is ready to reclaim his title from the undefeated ‘El Matador’. If this potential fight between Topuria and Holloway does happen this October in Abu Dhabi, it is definitely set to be a gripping PPV event.

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