There’s a good chance 145-pound Ilya Topria will be the next big thing, but Max Holloway has been that guy before.
The former featherweight champion has faced some of the best competition the sport has to offer during his tenure with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which began in 2012. “Blessed” sees some parallels between his and Topuria’s rise to the top, but at this point in his career, the mind games that come with pre-fight promos are the 32-year-old’s It doesn’t really affect Hawaiians.
Holloway will face Topuria in the main event of UFC 308 on Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card will air on pay-per-view on ESPN+ at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT, with prelims beginning at 10:00 AM ET/7:00 AM PT on ESPN+.
“I won my first belt against a former champion…Idols become rivals.Ilia is said to be a big fan.I think that’s why he did the same thing as me, and I respect that. ,” Holloway said in an interview with UFC.com. “At the end of the day, with all these psychological games and whatever he says and whatever he’s trying to do, I’m not the one you try it on. It’s totally business to me. We are going to fight. We can talk about whatever we want. [On Saturday]you can hit without getting arrested. It’s going to be a good night. ”
UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway takes place Saturday at 2pm ET on ESPN+. Order now!
Topria has emerged as a very confident champion, which is further emphasized by his 15-0 record. His championship reign began with a second-round knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February of this year. Holloway, on the other hand, is 0-3 against Volkanovski, losing seven times in his career. While Topuria may focus on the setbacks experienced by his opponents, Holloway believes being tested in battle is invaluable. According to the BMF champion, records don’t matter on fight night.
“If that’s what he needs for himself, feel immortal. I go into every game 0-0. He’s growing up. [how] I lost seven times. Great story, brother,” Holloway said. “…Losing is a huge deal in this sport. I get it. Some of the greatest players in every other sport have lost a lot. LeBron James What is his record in the finals?…I think he lost more than he won.
“If you don’t learn, a loss is a loss. I learned every single time. I can’t wait to get in there and see what he’s doing. He’s talking about important games. , we will know it [at UFC
308] How big?
