Holloway Slams Topuria For ‘Ducking’ – ‘A BMF Fights Whoever’

Max Holloway, the UFC BMF Champion, has hit out at UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria ahead of a potential fight. 

Holloway is coming off the best career win, stopping Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in thrilling fashion. ‘Blessed’ was dominating the fight and on course to a decision win only to change tactics. With the fight almost ending, Holloway urged Gaethje to meet in the center. Gathje agreed to do so, as both men exchanged, looking for a knockout. With a second left, Holloway landed a huge right hand, ending the bout. In his post-fight comments, Holloway called out Topuria. 

“I’m him, I’m him guys. There’s an ‘El Matador’, he is running away from a Bull at 145lbs, tell him to sign the damn contract. Spain, Hawaii, wherever,” Holloway said

Holloway vs Topuria

Topuria was cage-side to witness the moment. Topuria has also had the best career win, stopping Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in his last fight. The win secured him the featherweight title, ending Volkanovski’s four-year reign as champion. It was Volkanovski’s first stoppage loss at featherweight, as Topuria extended his unbeaten MMA record to 15-0. Topuria was open to facing Holloway, only on the condition that it was for the BMF belt. 

“Without the BMF belt, I don’t want him at all. If not, I’m going to fight with Volk for the rematch. But because he has that belt, I’m excited about that. That’s why I want him. He’s been saying, ‘Right now I have a lot of options.’ He doesn’t have any options. Right now I’m the champion. I choose the date, I choose the place. He just has to be ready and he has to wait for the call. Whenever I want him, he has to be ready,” Topuria said

A win over Topuria gives Holloway the featherweight title, something which he has desperately been chasing. He has had three failed attempts against Volkanovski, making a Topuria all the more important. The losses at UFC 245, UFC 251 and UFC 276 were all decision defeats.

Holloway Reacts

Holloway had shown he could last the distance with the very best. However, Topuria is a KO artist. Outside of his seven wins in the UFC, five of them have come before the distance. If such a fight were to go ahead, it could take place in Spain. While Topuria did want the BMF belt, Holloway was not pleased with the conditions attached to the fight. 

“That’s not a very ‘BMF’ way to say it. A ‘BMF’ wouldn’t say, ‘I’m not going to fight this guy unless …’ That’s kind of un-‘BMF.’ Doesn’t sound ‘BMF’ the way he’s trying to demand it and saying, ‘I’m not going to fight.’ A ‘BMF’ fights whatever, fights whoever, whenever, any weight, any time, and that’s not a tone of a ‘BMF,” Holloway stated 

Holloway is in a position to secure the big fights. He has also mentioned Conor McGregor as an alternative to Topuria. Holloway lost to McGregor in 2013 via a decision. The Notorious faces Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, his first fight since breaking his leg to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. If McGregor comes through, fans could see Holloway in a rematch with the Irishman.