“Just bring the same energy you had in last 10 seconds!” Ilia Topuria openly challenges Max Holloway to ‘bang’ in upcoming title fight

Max Holloway receives response from Ilia Topuria after UFC 300 victory.

“Just bring the same energy you had in last 10 seconds!” Ilia Topuria openly challenges Max Holloway to ‘bang’ in upcoming title fight

Ilia Topuria responds to Max Holloway (Image via: IMAGO)

Max Holloway stunned the spectators at UFC 300 with the brutal knockout of Justin Gaethje. As the new BMF champion, Holloway made a callout to two title holders. The Hawaiian called out Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev, the respective featherweight and lightweight champions.

Makhachev already has a fight lined up, but Topuria does not. Therefore, the Spaniard responded to the callout of Holloway. For a potential fight at the Las Vegas Sphere for UFC 306, Topuria had a message for Max “Blessed” Holloway in his interview with Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour.

He [Max Holloway] can say whatever he wants to say. That I'm running and that he's the bull and this and that. Come on, man, just bring the same energy you had in the last 10 seconds, but bring it in the first 10 seconds and we'll see what's going to happen. Let's bang!
Ilia Topuria via The MMA Hour
YouTube video

Topuria also stated that he was better than Holloway in all aspects of MMA. Moreover, he even vowed to be the first fighter to knock out Holloway. Nobody had even dropped Holloway in MMA. Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje came close to it, but nobody at featherweight had even staggered him.

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Topuria only wanted to fight Holloway for the BMF title. If that did not happen, he wanted a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski. Moreover, if victorious against Holloway, he revealed his plan to become a champion at lightweight. It remains to be seen what the UFC will do, considering that both Holloway and Volkanovski deserve a shot at the title.

Max Holloway’s callout of Ilia Topuria at UFC 300

Max Holloway had a scintillating performance at UFC 300. The UFC’s 600K bonus to him can attest to that fact. Like the exciting fight with Gaethje, his octagon interview with Joe Rogan was equally impressive.

Max Holloway's callout of Ilia Topuria
Max Holloway’s callout of Ilia Topuria (via Imago/X)

Holloway began his octagon interview with showers of praise for Justin Gaethje and encouraged the fans to applaud his fallen foe. The audience happily obliged. Afterward, the Hawaiian stated what he wanted next.

All I gotta say, I'm him, I'm him, guys, guys, there's the El Matador [Ilia Topuria]. He is running away from a bull at 145. Tell him, 'Sign the damn contract.' Spain, Hawaii, wherever.
Max Holloway at the UFC 300 Octagon Interview
YouTube video

In addition to the callout of the featherweight champion, Holloway also called out Islam Makhachev, the lightweight champion. He subtly trolled Makhachev for his only two title defenses against Alexander Volkanovski, a featherweight.

Funnily enough, like Renato Moicano and Jiri Prochazka, Max Holloway expressed his desire to be on a podcast with Joe Rogan. The commentator happily obliged the wish of the BMF champion.

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