Ilia Topuria firmly established himself as the top dog in the featherweight division with an emphatic knockout win over Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Topuria, who moved to 16-0 with this triumph, made a successful first defence of the title he won off Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year.
The 27-year-old Georgian-Spanish fighter put Holloway down in the third round with a brutal left hook, followed by hammer fists on the ground, to end the 31-year-old Hawaiian’s hopes of reclaiming the belt he last held in 2019.
ILIA TOPURIA HAS KNOCKED OUT MAX HOLLOWAY!!!! OH MY GOODNESSSS!!!!!#UFC #MMA #UFC308pic.twitter.com/eSrrGyeXoC
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 26, 2024
“To beat a legend like Max Holloway, it's something I can't even believe," Topuria said in his post-fight interview with UFC legend Daniel Cormier.
"I've followed him his entire career and he's inspired me so much. He's been a great example for my generation. I now represent the new generation and I hope I can be a small example he has been for me.”
Topuria expressed interest in a rematch with Volkanovski, or a fight against top contender Diego Lopes.
Topuria and Volkanovski briefly exchanged pleasantries in the Octagon.
"He defended his title seven times, if anyone deserves it it's him," Topuria said of Volkanovski.
The rest of the main card saw Khamzat Chimaev make quick work of Robert Whittaker to establish himself as the main threat to Dricus du Plessis in the middleweight division; Magomed Ankalaev defeated Aleksandar Rakic via unanimous decision in the light heavyweight division; Lerone Murphy outpointed Dan Ige in the featherweight category; and the middleweight opener saw Sharabutdin Magomedov stop Armen Petrosyan with a second round spinning-backfist knockout.
The UFC continues on the Sunday 3 November with a Fight Night at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada, headlined by a flyweight fight between Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi.
UFC 308 – MAIN CARD RESULTS
- Main event: Featherweight championship: Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway via KO (punches), R3, 1:34
- Middleweight: Khamzat Chimaev def. Robert Whittaker via submission (face crank), R1, 3:34
- Light heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakic via unanimous decision (29-28 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00
- Featherweight: Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00
- Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan via KO (spinning backfist), R2, 4:52