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News, Blog and GuidesThe Spanish-Georgian featherweight champion said in an interview that he is not interested in facing the Hawaiian if it is not for the title he won at UFC 300
Cristina ParraCriistinaparra_Fidel RubioUpdate: Apr 19th, 2024 06:28 EDT0
After Max Holloway’s knockout victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, Ilia Topuria decided he would be his next opponent. Both confirmed their fight online, but the Spanish-Georgian has one requirement to face him: the belt he won.
“Without the BMF belt, I don’t want him at all”, El Matador revealed in an interview with Ariel Helwani. Moreover, he stated that he was not impressed by the Hawaiian’s performance.
Holloway put Gaethje to sleep in the last second of the final round to take the BMF title from him, a belt that defines the company’s ‘baddest’ fighter. Topuria saw it all from the front row alongside former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The Hawaiian asked for a fight against Ilia, who accepted without hesitation.
A moment nobody will ever forget 😤Did you catch your reaction to @BlessedMMA's KO at #UFC300?Drop your videos in the replies below 👇 pic.twitter.com/4W2jDYk2qw
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2024
Topuria wants Holloway in September
But there are conditions. Holloway was the featherweight champion but lost his crown to Alexander Volkanovski. Now he wants to get the belt back, and he has the chance to have a title fight. But El Matador wants something else. The BMF title has to be at stake, otherwise, he is not interested in Max.
“If not, I will fight Volkanovski, he deserves the rematch more than him. But Max has that belt, and that excites me, that’s why I want him”, Ilia admitted.
