While Ilia Topuria might very well be the next big thing at 145 pounds, Max Holloway has been there before.
The former featherweight king has faced the best the sport has to offer over the course of an Ultimate Fighting Championship tenure that began in 2012. While “Blessed” can see some parallels betwen his and Topuria’s rise to the top, at this point in his career, the mind games that accompany pre-fight promotion don’t have much of an effect on the 32-year-old Hawaiian.
Holloway will square off against Topuria in the UFC 308 main event on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view via ESPN+ at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. ET, while prelims begin on ESPN+ at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT.
“I got my first belt against former champions…Your idols become your rivals. Ilia said he’s a big fan. So I guess he did what I did, and I respect that,” Holloway said in an interview with UFC.com. “At the end of the day, all these mental games, and whatever he’s saying and whatever he’s trying to do, I’m not the one you’ve got to try that with. It’s strictly business for me. We get to fight. You can talk anything you like. [On Saturday], I get to punch you without getting arrested. It’s going to be a good night.”
UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Saturday at 2 PM ET on ESPN+. Order Now!
Topuria has emerged as an extremely confident champion, which is only enhanced by his 15-0 record. His championship reign began with a second-round knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February. Holloway, meanwhile, is 0-3 against Volkanovski and has lost seven times over the course of his career. While Topuria might focus on the setbacks his opponent has suffered, Holloway believes being battle tested is invaluable. According to the BMF champ, records don’t matter on fight night.
“If that’s what he needs for himself, feel indestructible. I go into every fight 0-0. He’s bringing up [how] I lost seven times. Cool story, bro,” Holloway said. “.. In this sport, losing is very huge. I understand that. Some of the greatest guys in every other sport have a bunch of losses. What is LeBron James’ finals record?… I think he’s lost more than he won.
“Losses are only losses if you don’t learn. I learned every single damn time after every one. I just can’t wait to go in there and see what he’s about. He talks a big game and we get to find out [at UFC 308] how big it is.
