Ilia Topuria News
Ilia Topuria says Max Holloway, featherweights need a "motorcycle helmet" to survive his power
Curtis Calhoun - September 12, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria believes his upcoming opponents, including Max Holloway, need extra protection to deal with his power. Topuria will make his first featherweight title defense at UFC 308 against Holloway. He returns to the Octagon after finishing Alexander Volkanovski for the belt at UFC 298 in February.
Diego Lopes responds to Ilia Topuria's title shot callout: "If he's saying my name..."
Curtis Calhoun - September 10, 2024
UFC featherweight contender Diego Lopes knows what’s potentially on the line this weekend ahead of the biggest fight of his career. Lopes will face former UFC featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega at UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere. This is the toughest on-paper test of Lopes’s career and could potentially earn him a title shot with a win.
Sean O'Malley's coach explains how Max Holloway can beat Ilia Topuria at UFC 308
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 10, 2024
The coach of UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley thinks Max Holloway has a solid chance of dethroning Ilia Topuria. Holloway is set to challenge Topuria for the UFC Featherweight Championship at UFC 308 on October 26th. Topuria is a betting favorite going into the title fight. Still, fans haven’t forgotten about the spectacular last-minute KO that “Blessed” scored over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
UFC 308: ‘Topuria vs. Holloway’ Fight Card and Start Times
Harry Kettle - September 4, 2024
The countdown is on as we sit just a few months out from the blockbuster UFC 308 event, headlined by Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway. Event: UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Date: Saturday, 26th October 2024 Location: Etihad Arena (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) Broadcast: ESPN+ PPV, ESPN2, ESPN+ (2pm EST main card)
Aljamain Sterling wonders if Max Holloway can fatigue Ilia Topuria
Harry Kettle - August 30, 2024
Aljamain Sterling believes Max Holloway’s key to potentially beating Ilia Topuria could stem from trying to fatigue the champion. Later this year, Max Holloway will challenge Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight championship. He’ll be attempting to win back the belt that was taken from him by Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria, meanwhile, will hope to prove that he is the rightful man to take the title forward.
Video | Joe Rogan gushes over “incredible” footage of Ilia Topuria doing pad work: “The speed man!”
Harry Kettle - August 29, 2024
UFC commentator Joe Rogan couldn’t help but praise Ilia Topuria after seeing some of his recent pad work. As we know, Ilia Topuria is on top of the world right now. After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, he became the new UFC featherweight champion. Now, it’s all about keeping hold of his crown.
Max Holloway vows to do something special against Ilia Topuria at UFC 308: "Wait until they get to see the outcome"
Cole Shelton - August 27, 2024
Max Holloway plans to do something special to become the featherweight champion again when he takes on Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. Holloway secured a featherweight title shot after he scored a KO win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to win the BMF title at lightweight. Although it was up a weight class, the Hawaiian cemented himself as a No. 1 contender, but he enters his UFC 308 bout against Topuria as the underdog.
Ilia Topuria predicts potential title collision against top contender Diego Lopes
Harry Kettle - August 27, 2024
Ilia Topuria has predicted that he could eventually defend his UFC title against rising contender Diego Lopes. Since defeating Alexander Volkanovski to claim the UFC featherweight championship, Ilia Topuria has been on top of the world. He is quickly establishing himself as a megastar in mixed martial arts, with the expectation being that he could go on to be a real household name worldwide.
Ilia Topuria says he could beat Max Holloway and Sean O’Malley in the same night: “They both suck”
Harry Kettle - August 23, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria believes he could defeat Max Holloway and Sean O’Malley on the same night. After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, Ilia Topuria has been on top of the world. He has a new celebrity status, he’s the featherweight king, and he’s ready for the next step in his career. That next step will come in the form of him defending the crown against Max Holloway.
Ilia Topuria confirms the BMF title won’t be up for grabs in fight with Max Holloway at UFC 308: “There’s no way I’m not going to knock him out”
Josh Evanoff - August 21, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria plans on knocking out Max Holloway in October, ‘BMF’ title or not. ‘El Matador’ hasn’t been in the cage since his title clash with Alexander Volkanovski in February. The bout was Ilia Topuria’s first fight for UFC gold, and he made it count. It took less than two rounds for the Spanish fighter to hand ‘The Great’ a knockout loss. In the process, ending Volkanovski’s stranglehold over 145 pounds.
Former MMA champion says Max Holloway is stylistically “a bad matchup” for Ilia Topuria: “That’s going to be his downfall”
Susan Cox - August 9, 2024
Former MMA champion Josh Thomson says Max Holloway is stylistically ‘a bad matchup’ for Ilia Topuria. The undefeated Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA) is set to defend his UFC featherweight title for the first time against Max Holloway (26-7 MMA) at UFC 308 which takes place on Saturday, October 26th at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Ilia Topuria's brother Aleksandre announces UFC signing: "Joining the major league!"
Josh Evanoff - August 8, 2024
The brother of featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, Aleksandre Topuria, has now signed with the UFC. ‘El Matador’ is the greatest at 145 pounds at the moment. Fresh off his knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year, Ilia Topuria will face current ‘BMF’ champion Max Holloway in October. Headlining UFC 308, the featherweight titleholder will look to add ‘Blessed’ to his list of victims.
REPORT | Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway added to UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi following Islam Makhachev injury
Josh Evanoff - July 29, 2024
According to several reports, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway will clash in October. ‘El Matador’ has been out of action since his fight for UFC gold earlier this year in February. Facing longtime featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, Ilia Topuria made quick work of the titleholder. The Spanish fighter scored a second-round knockout victory and called out Max Holloway afterward.
Dana White reacts to Ilia Topuria suggesting the UFC forced Max Holloway to sign the contract
Susan Cox - July 29, 2024
Dana White is reacting to Ilia Topuria suggesting that the UFC forced Max Holloway to sign the contract. Current UFC BMF Champion Max Holloway (26-7 MMA) last fought and defeated Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA) by KO at the historic UFC 300 this past April.
Ilia Topuria hints a fight announcement is imminent: "El Matador is back"
Curtis Calhoun - July 24, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria sounds like he’s weeks away from a return to the cage for his first title defense. Topuria earned the UFC featherweight title by handing Alexander Volkanovski his second-straight knockout loss at UFC 298 in February. Since then, he’s lambasted some of the top contenders in the UFC featherweight division, as criticized by Volkanovski and others.
Ilia Topuria hits back at Conor McGregor after threatening to "Slap the head off" him at BKFC presser
Curtis Calhoun - July 18, 2024
Tensions are intensifying between UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and superstar Conor McGregor. After withdrawing from his scheduled UFC bout with Michael Chandler at UFC 303, McGregor is recovering from a foot injury. In the meantime, he’s exploring some of his other avenues, including being a part-owner of Bare Knuckle FC.
Sean O’Malley vents frustration over the current UFC pound-for-pound rankings: “How’s Ilia higher?”
Susan Cox - July 5, 2024
Sean O’Malley is venting his frustration over the current UFC pound-for-pound rankings. The official UFC rankings garnered some changes following UFC 303 this past weekend.
Ilia Topuria issues harsh response to Alexander Volkanovski's criticism over rejecting fights
Curtis Calhoun - July 3, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has responded to Alexander Volkanovski’s harsh criticism about his title reign. Topuria finished Volkanovski to earn the UFC featherweight title at UFC 298 back in February. He’s expected to return to the Octagon by the end of the year, potentially against BMF titleholder Max Holloway.