Tag: Ilia Topuria

Max Holloway responds to the ‘un-BMF’ demands from UFC champ Ilia Topuria

Max Holloway has some thoughts about Ilia Topuria’s stipulations for a UFC featherweight title fight – and it’s not very gangster.

If [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] holds to his recent stipulation for a title fight with [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag], it would run counter to the idea behind what Topuria wants to get his hands on to begin with, Holloway thinks.

UFC featherweight champion Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) said after this past Saturday’s hyper-dramatic UFC 300 “BMF” title win by Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) that it’s likely the former champ had earned another title shot.

But then Topuria said he only would grant Holloway a chance to win the belt if the “BMF” belt Holloway got against Justin Gaethje was up for grabs, too. And while that may seem like a natural and reasonable request, it’s also made Holloway raise his eyebrow a bit.

“We’ll see what happens. I mean, that’s not a very BMF way to say it, you know?” Holloway said on “The Jim Rome Show.” “A BMF wouldn’t be like, ‘I’m not going to fight this guy unless this …’ That’s kind of un-BMF. That didn’t sound BMF the way he’s trying to demand it and say ‘I’m not going to fight …'”

Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to win the featherweight title. Volkanovski holds three wins over Holloway in featherweight title fights and is the only featherweight to beat Holloway the past decade.

But Topuria said absent that BMF belt, he isn’t interested in fighting Holloway.

“Without the BMF belt, I don’t want him at all,” Topuria said Monday. “If not, I’m going to fight with Volkanovski, who deserves the rematch more than him. Because (Holloway) has that (BMF) belt, I’m excited about that. That’s why I want him. He’s been saying, ‘Right now I have a lot of options’ and this and that. He doesn’t have any options. I’m the champion right now.”

Topuria thinks he could be down to put the featherweight title on the line for the first time – provided Holloway puts that BMF belt up – by this fall.

But Holloway still thinks the mere ask of that drops Topuria a peg.

“A BMF fights whenever – fights whoever, whenever, any weight, any time,” Holloway said. “That’s not the tone of a BMF, brother. We’ll see what happens. Whatever the UFC wants to do, they want to do. I just want to be in the octagon with him. I want to see what the hype is about.”

Topuria backed up his hype against Volkanovski. He’s the only undefeated champion in the UFC.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

UFC champ Ilia Topuria says he’ll only accept Max Holloway fight if BMF title at stake

Ilia Topuria has revealed a major stipulation before he agrees to defend his UFC featherweight title against Max Holloway.

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] has revealed a major stipulation before he agrees to defend his UFC featherweight title against [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag].

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) expects his first title defense after claiming the belt from Alexander Volkanovski in February to come against newly crowned BMF champ Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), who dazzled the combat sports world this past weekend with a buzzer-beater knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

Holloway made it clear he wanted to fight Topuria in the aftermath of UFC 300, and “El Matador” has shared similar sentiments. However, Topuria is refusing to be the only person to put his belt on the line. He demands Holloway put his BMF belt at stake, too, otherwise he’s not interested.

“Without the BMF belt, I don’t want him at all,” Topuria said on Monday’s episode of “The MMA Hour” with Ariel Helwani. “If not, I’m going to fight with Volkanovski, who deserves the rematch more than him. 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’ and this and that. He doesn’t have any options.

“I’m the champion right now. I choose the date. I choose the place. He just has to be ready. He has to wait for the call. Whenever I want him, he has to be ready.”

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Topuria, who is the only current UFC champ with an undefeated record, likes his chances against his Hawaiian foe. Holloway holds the record for most UFC fights without being knocked down and has legendary durability, as well as the confidence of coming off an all-time moment. But Topuria vows to bring an end to all of that.

“He can say whatever he wants to say,” Topuria said. “That I’m running and that he’s the bull and all that. Come on, man. Just bring the same energy you had in the last 10 seconds (against Gaethje), but bring it in the first 10 seconds. Let’s see what’s going to happen. Let’s bang. And we’ll see what’s going to happen. I know that I’m going to be the first to turn his lights out.

“I know that I’m way better than him everywhere. I can do with him whatever I want to do. I can just ask him, ‘How you want me to finish you? You want me to knock you out? You want me to submit you? What you want me to do?'”

Assuming Holloway and the UFC oblige the BMF title stipulation, Topuria said he expects to be ready to schedule a fight with Holloway in September, potentially at UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Topuria ultimately thinks it’s the right fight to make, because although Volkanovski is deserving of an immediate rematch, Topuria still thinks the former champ needs more time away from competition following a brutal UFC 298 defeat.

“I think he needs more time for the recovery,” Topuria said. “Even if we fight at the end of the year and I knock him out, it’s going to be like, ‘He didn’t have the time to recovery, he got knocked out three times in one year.’ I just want the best for him. I want the best version of Volkanovski. He needs more time. Once he recovers and feels like he’s ready, we’re going to run it back. No problem.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Ilia Topuria touts feather in cap over Max Holloway after UFC 300 knockout

Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria had some choice words for Max Holloway after UFC 300.

Featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] sent [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] a warning after UFC 300.

Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) claimed the BMF title with an iconic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was in attendance and looked stunned after Holloway delivered the spectacular finish. However, he welcomes “Blessed” as his next title challenger.

“To be honest, I’m really happy because we just saw Holloway win, so I just realized I will have two belts instead of one,” Topuria told ESPN Deportes. “I think it’s clear now. We have the next fight. It will be against Max Holloway. … Let’s see. Nothing concrete, but there was a big chance that if he walked out victorious of the octagon he could be next. I’m not sure if he is hurt. I hope not so he can come back soon, and we can have a fight.”

Unlike most, Topuria wasn’t that impressed with Holloway’s finish.

“Well, it was good, nothing special to be honest,” Topuria said. “The ending was only an exchange of the punches without any strategy, both just throwing punches. Zero defense, hands down, and those kinds of things can happen, but that is something that would never happen with me.”

Topuria also made sure to remind Holloway that while he needed less than two rounds to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway couldn’t beat him on three attempts.

“(Max) was talking a lot during the week,” Topuria continued. “It’s normal. It is what he has to do. He needs to believe he is the best. There is no other way in this sport, but the results are clear. I did in nine minutes (to Alexander Volkanovski) what he was not able to do in 90 minutes. So, he can say whatever he wants, enjoy now, and get ready for what’s coming. He can do whatever he wants. He won’t be able to change that. He is a really easy fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

UFC champion Ilia Topuria meets soccer superstar Lionel Messi

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria snaps a photo with soccer superstar Leo Messi.

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]’s soccer interest goes beyond Spain.

The undefeated UFC featherweight champion met and snapped a photo with soccer superstar and World Cup winner Lionel Messi on Saturday at the Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida – at Inter Miami’s home game against Colorado.

Topuria, a big soccer fan who supports Real Madrid, had nothing, but good things to say about Messi.

“With one of the biggest legends in the history of sports,” Topuria wrote on Instagram. “He’s a great example for me and a role model for everyone.”

You can check out Topuria’s post with Messi below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5dhnHJLqUX/?img_index=1

Topuria won the UFC featherweight title in February by knocking out all-time great Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 298. The undefeated champion is quickly becoming one of the biggest stars in MMA, and one of the biggest sporting figures in Spain and Europe.

Although nothing official, the UFC has expressed interest in hosting an event in Spain, given Topuria’s rise. Topuria hopes to defend his 145-pound belt at the Santiago Bernabéu – home of Real Madrid.

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UFC champ Islam Makhachev blames Alexander Volkanovski’s team for knockout loss to Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev says Alexander Volkanovski’s team should’ve never allowed him to make a quick turnaround vs. Ilia Topuria.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] says [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s team should’ve never allowed him to make a quick turnaround vs. [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag].

Less than four months after getting knocked out by lightweight champion Makhachev at UFC 294 this past October, Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) defended his featherweight title against unbeaten Topuria at UFC 298 in February.

Unfortunately for Volkanovski, he was knocked out in Round 2, and now finds himself sitting on back-to-back brutal stoppage losses. Makhachev points the finger at Volkanovski’s team for letting him compete again so soon.

“Of course (he returned too soon),” Makhachev told MMA Junkie of Volkanovski. “Alex is a good fighter, he is a warrior, everybody knows. He can fight everyday. But I always said that his team is very bad because this mistake is not Alex’s mistake. It’s a mistake the team made because the team has to sit with him and tell him, ‘Hey, it’s too soon.’

“He had a very bad, tough knockout in his last fight. He has to rest for a minimum of three or four months without training, nothing. You have to do some recovery and just wait. He go to fight again too soon. It was a big mistake. He is a warrior, he can come back, but still, he needs some time. He has to listen to his body and give some time for recovery.”

Volkanovski now plans on taking some time off. He is campaigning for an immediate rematch against Topuria at the end of the year, and is even willing to go to Spain to fight him.

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Coach Jorge Climent: Ilia Topuria can sellout UFC event at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu

Ilia Topuria’s coach believes they can sell out a UFC event at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu.

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]’s rise to stardom has been one of the biggest stories of 2024. The UFC featherweight champion has surprised many with his explosion in popularity, including his own coach, [autotag]Jorge Climent[/autotag].

Climent has been ultra confident in Topuria’s capabilities and even predicted that his pupil would knock out Alexander Volkanovski to win the UFC featherweight title—something many didn’t see possible. However, although Climent thinks the world of Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), he didn’t see coming his rise in popularity in Spain, at least not at the levels it’s played out.

“Having confidence in what we are capable of, doesn’t mean I had the vision of what we’re seeing today,” Climent told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I never thought we were going to have the reach that we have now or be recognized in the manner in which we’re being recognized.

“In Spain, this was always a niche sport and the majority of the fan base was created by us, so it’s just incredible. Winning over the Real Madrid fan base, being with the top politicians, being on television, heck, I even get recognized by older women. I say to myself, ‘This is crazy. This is all so crazy.’ But we’re staying as humble as possible and as grateful as possible.”

Shortly after winning the UFC featherweight title at UFC 298 last month, Topuria met with the president of Spain, did the honorary kick-off at the Real Madrid vs. Sevilla game, and appeared on the biggest talk shows in the country, among other things.

The UFC is aware of the attention Topuria has been getting in his home country, and they’ve expressed publicly their interest in having a debut event in Spain. Climent is confident that Topuria can easily headline and sell out a UFC event in Spain’s most prestigious stadium, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu.

“I’m sure he sells out El Bernabéu and not just of Spanish fans,” Climent explained. “Spain is the destination where all Europeans go on vacation. It’s very easy to come here and realize what paradise Spain is, so yeah, I’m sure he sells it out.

“Also, El Bernabéu is not just a stadium. When you look at it from the outside, it’s closed like an arena. They have some machines that cover the grass field and the seat sections can be made closer. It’s all now automatic and new. I think they just reopened it this year. It’s all modern and new. If I’m not mistaken, this year, they’re projected to do the NFL, NBA, so they’re bringing in many new projects. So why not also the UFC?”

Climent strongly believes that Spain is primed for a UFC event. Not only does it have a champion in Topuria, but it’s also a country with a passion for sports, and MMA could be added to its list.

“We deserve it and Spain deserves a UFC event,” Climent said. “At the end of the day, I think this greatly benefits the UFC because they can create a ton of lifelong fans. Spain is a place where people really like sports, and the UFC being a new sport here while having a star like Ilia, why not?”

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Alexander Volkanovski on Sean O’Malley calling out Ilia Topuria at UFC 299: ‘It better be soon because I’m next’

If Sean O’Malley wants to fight Ilia Topuria, Alexander Volkanovski says he better do it quickly.

If [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] wants to fight [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] says he better do it quickly.

Bantamweight champion O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) called out featherweight champion Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) after putting on a lopsided beating on Marlon Vera Saturday in the UFC 299 headliner.

With Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) looking to get an immediate rematch against Topuria, who dethroned him by knockout at UFC 298, the former champion warns O’Malley that he won’t get his wish if he waits.

“He called out Ilia,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “Look, unless you fight Ilia anytime soon, if yous can do a turnaround anytime soon, I guess you can have him. I’m having a little rest, but I’m fighting him later in the year, or whenever that is.

“I know I’m fighting for the title next. So if you are going to try to squeeze that in, it better be soon because I’m next. There’s your little window, if you want it. Sean, congratulations on your victory, impressive.”

A quick turnaround would be highly unlikely for O’Malley, who was sporting a cast on his hand and foot after the fight. UFC CEO Dana White dismissed the idea of O’Malley vs. Topuria next, and so did Topuria himself, who suggested O’Malley fight Merab Dvalishvili first.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Ilia Topuria rejects Sean O’Malley’s post-UFC 299 callout, says to fight Merab Dvalishvili first

Ilia Topuria is open to a future champion-vs-champion showdown with Sean O’Malley, but not just yet.

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] is open to a future champion-vs-champion showdown with [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag], but not just yet.

After O’Malley (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) defended his bantamweight title for the first time with a unanimous decision win over Marlon Vera in Saturday’s UFC 299 headliner at Kaseya Center in Miami, he called out featherweight titleholder Topuria, who captured the belt with a second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February.

O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) said the matchup intrigues him, and certainly more so than the next top contender at 135 pounds, [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag].

Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is riding a 10-fight winning streak and has been given previous assurances of a title shot next. Topuria could step in the way of his fellow Georgian by leaning into the callout from O’Malley, but he is going the other direction and said the time isn’t right (via X):

Suga, congrats.. Was a beautiful performance! There is a fight chasing you with Merab.. Get that done first .

It’s unclear whom Topuria will fight for his first title defense at 145 pounds, but there’s a good chance it will take place in Spain. UFC CEO Dana White expressed interest in bringing the promotion to the country for the first time after Topuria’s win over Volkanovski.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

UFC 299 results: Sean O’Malley batters durable Marlon Vera to retain title, calls out Ilia Topuria

Sean O’Malley blasted Marlon Vera with a variety of attacks at UFC 299 to retain his title, then called out the featherweight champion.

MIAMI – And still.

Bantamweight champion [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] avenged his only career loss Saturday when he defeated longtime rival [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] in the UFC 299 main event at Kaseya Center. O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) battered Vera (21-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) for five rounds to win a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44).

The environment was raucous with support for both fighters heard, though the chants of “Chito, Chito” were the loudest. O’Malley seemed unfazed, however, as he battered the lead leg of Vera and snuck punches through the Ecuadorian’s guard. With feints and light-on-his-feet footwork, O’Malley dictated the pace – a successful one for him in Round 1.

Round 2 was all O’Malley, who poured an onslaught of attack on Vera that began with a massive standing knee. The blow sent Vera backward, though he somehow did not fall down. O’Malley surged forward with a violent attack of punches as blood trickled down from under Vera’s right eye. O’Malley landed several more big, head-snapping punches before the round ended.

The third round was more O’Malley, though a late surge from Vera – his best consecutive offense of the fight to that point – fired up the Miami crowd. The fourth round was the most competitive, with both fighters having their moments. Regardless of how it was scored, Vera needed a finish in Round 5 – which he did not find.

Instead, O’Malley battered Vera with a brutal punch in the opening seconds. Vera, clearly hurt, made a direct B-line backward as O’Malley walked him down. Though Vera remained ultra-tough, his durability was certainly pushed as he absorbed a tremendous amount more damage before the final horn.

After the fight, O’Malley called out UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], though said he’s open to a fight against Merab Dvalishvili, as well.

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With the victory, O’Malley successfully defends the title in his first attempt. He has not lost in seven fights, dating back to his initial meeting with Vera in August 2020. O’Malley lost that fight by TKO after a leg injury and punches by Vera.

Vera comes up short in his first UFC title challenge. A member of the UFC’s roster since the promotion’s inaugural “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” season in 2014, Vera has served as a pioneer and trailblazer for Latin American MMA. A large Ecuadorian presence was seen and heard at Kaseya Center.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 299 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Sean O’Malley interested in eventual champ vs. champ clash against ‘scary little dude’ Ilia Topuria

Sean O’Malley weighs in on a potential showdown with fellow UFC champion Ilia Topuira.

MIAMI – UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] is keeping an eye on what’s happening at 145 pounds.

The neighboring weight class of the 135-pound champ has caught his attention with the change in command at the top. Last month at UFC 298, [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to crown himself champion and propel his name to stardom in Spain.

O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC), who defends his belt against Marlon Vera (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC) this Saturday at UFC 299, liked what he saw from Topuria and is interested in facing him in a champion vs. champion superfight down the line.

“Beautiful performance,” O’Malley told MMA Junkie when asked about Topuria’s performance at Wednesday’s UFC 299 media day. “I was there live, and it was a cool moment. Ilia is a scary little dude. That fight excites me. I would definitely love to get that fight eventually.”

This potential fight would involve someone changing weight classes, and O’Malley has no issue being the one who does.

“Yeah, I would move up to 145 (pounds) for that,” O’Malley said. “I’m a bantamweight for the next couple of years, but if I did do that, it would be up there. Just go up there, knock him out real quick, and then head back down.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.