We don’t have to wait much longer. Here is what is, for many, the best fight of 2024 in the UFC. The duel between Ilia Topuria (15-0) and Max Holloway (26-7) for the featherweight reign. He UFC 308 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi means the opportunity Matador to hunt to the legends at 145 poundsalso an unmatched battle in the entire world roster of the main mixed martial arts league.
The ‘Matador’ shared a video on the Invictos channel
Why Topuria and Holloway represent everything the UFC stands for. Emotion, script changes. Spanish is a finisher and comes from destroy Alexander Volkanovskigreat monarch of the pen, with a brutal combination. Holloway, pure energy and his last detail at UFC 300 was legendary after mentioning in the center of the octagon to Justin Gaethje and end up winning after 10″ of shooting. They are similar, because they want to fight on their feet. But also different. How could Topuria continue to reign?
The keys
It will be a standing battlebecause although Topuria has a fighting base and a black belt in BJJhas repeated that he wants to be the first to knock out Holloway. And his way of hitting is different. Max is a kickboxer, who works at long and medium distances. tops He has refined his boxing, but He prefers to lock his rival against the cage and execute with his power blows.
He showed it against Volkanovskiin a fight he won after adjusting to what his corner asked for. There the Climent brothers (Agustín and Jorge), Javi Climent and his brother, Aleksandre, They designed a strategy that Topuria finally made a reality after his brother’s final request in the break between rounds, as shown by the UFC Countdown. “His right arm is a little low. Shorten his distance and try to bite there. Continue with your right, return to your starting position and don’t stay there,” Alek asked.. Ilia complied.
The fighter confirms his 15-0 and is featherweight champion.
Holloway is different because he is bigger and has a different type of punch, but the base of tops it doesn’t change. He likes to close the distance, taking it to the fence and that’s where his differential blows appear. In defense, You must take care of your right side when playing with your shoulder to cover yourself. Something that Jai Herbert punished and continues to be the Spaniard’s worst moment in the UFC.
Maxfor its part, perhaps it is not so pure in boxing. He mixes kicks, presses through his wingspan, and takes more hits by being less defensive. But he has the ability to change positions depending on the opponent’s strategy, and can work his powerful hands to get out of complex situations.
Max Holloway, with the BMF.
The prognosis? To be decided. Topuria maintains it will be simple. “Much easier than Volkanovski,” he says. Other voices, like the Australian myth itself, believe that Max will prevail. “Ilia is a great fighter, but I’ll stick with Max. His chin stays up and his boxing is good enough. He will take hits, so Ilia will test his chin. But at the same time everything favors Max in the last rounds,” he closes.
