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    • Ilia Topuria claims Max Holloway is ‘very nervous’ and ‘struggling’ with pressure after staying silent during intense UFC 308 face-off
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    Ilia Topuria claims Max Holloway is ‘very nervous’ and ‘struggling’ with pressure after staying silent during intense UFC 308 face-off

    Vaseline Posted on

    Ahead of what should be an unforgettable evening in Abu Dhabi, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and title challenger Max Holloway faced off for the final time at yesterday’s ceremonial weigh-in.

    While ‘El Matador’ was happily whistling, Max Holloway refused to even acknowledge the featherweight champion’s words; according to the Spanish-Georgian sensation, the silence was simply proof that ‘Blessed’ is nervous about their title match.

    Ilia Topuria of Spain and Max Holloway exchange words during the UFC 308 press conference at Etihad Arena on October 24, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United…
    Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    Ilia Topuria thinks he’s gotten under Holloway’s skin after an intense final showdown

    15-0 superstar Ilia Topuria defends his featherweight world title in just a few hours in the main event of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi against former king Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway.

    But as we count down what is expected to be a fighter of the year, Topuria believes he is already 1-0 ahead of the former champion when he took charge at the ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of the fight.

    “Let’s go brother, let’s go,” Topuria said, as the UFC cameras captured part of the exchange as Holloway stood silently: “I’m the best in the world, I’m the best in the world and you’re about to for a tough night of trying to beat me.

    “Believe me, I’m the best in the world, and I worked my ass off… The victory is mine, I’m (still) going to be world champion, believe me.”

    Speaking to TNT Sports after the final showdown, Topuria would reveal more of what was said, as he claimed Holloway’s silence was proof he was “very, very nervous” ahead of what was the Hawaiian’s 10th will be.e title fight.

    “I told him that I am the best fighter in the world and that I have worked my butt off and that victory tomorrow night will be my only option… That was the conversation I had with him, but I didn’t get an answer. For his part, he seems to be very nervous and having a lot of trouble.

    “I don’t want him to compare me to anyone he’s dealt with in the past (because) I’m different,” said the 15-0 superstar, who enters UFC 308 as the slight betting favorite around -250.

    “He calls himself a problem solver, but tomorrow night he’ll have a problem in front of him called ‘El Matador’… He calls himself ‘The Bull’ and we all know what the Matador does to the bull, and the same is what’s going on tomorrow night to happen. I’ll be the first to knock him out, believe me.”

    Topuria was joined at the UFC 308 ceremonial weigh-in by superstar footballer Sergio Ramos, with the UFC Europe camera crew capturing a brief conversation between the two.

    ‘He’s not talking, is he? That other man, right,” Ramos asked: “He already seems scared, nothing, he hasn’t said anything.”

    “I’m the best in the world, and he knows it,” Topuria replied.

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