“He is a SAVAGE” – Max Holloway put to sleep by Ilia Topuria in electric UFC 308 fight

UFC 308 pay-per-view (PPV) results: Ilia Topuria becomes first to knock out Max Holloway, defends belt with thunderous KO.

“He is a SAVAGE” – Max Holloway put to sleep by Ilia Topuria in electric UFC 308 fight

Ilia Topuria makes good on his promise to take out Max Holloway at UFC 308 PPV (Source: X)

Featherweight champ Ilia Topuria – a future pay-per-view (PPV) behemoth — made his first defense. He met former champ and current “BMF” Max Holloway and stunned everyone. He delivered on his promise to go 16-0 again at UFC 308. Topuria delivered on his promise to shine against the best who is “Blessed.” The Alicante-Georgian even lived up to his promise to be the first-ever to knockout Holloway!

Max Holloway dropped down from his 155lbs “BMF” dip to get back what was his. Topuria knew of the throwdown challenges he posed and even taunted him to do so in the opening frame. Holloway, 5′ 11″, though, stayed outside and at range. Ilia Topuria teed off some early shots and leg kicks on the lead stance. The challenger also has his pockets of victory and even shot off quite an elbow.

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After a legitimate takedown and a leg sweep on the rise, ‘Matador’ reigned in and got the back of his bull again. During the milestone UFC 300 PPV event, Holloway was knocked down. But his knockdown stat stayed the same as it wasn’t down flat against an isometric plane. Equipped with his iconic rose and resolve, it was clear the champ was headhunting to change that.

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The second round was pressing on. Topuria’s clean right hands vs. Holloway’s rock-hard chin was one for the tale. Later, a good clean shot caught and hurt Max Holloway like never before! At around the 3:32 mark of round three, Topuria swarmed him back to the fences with two clean lefts and stunned him. After a few hammer fists, … Topuria defeated Max Holloway via KO (punches) to defend his strap.

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When Ilia ‘El Matador’ Topuria walked the walk at 4:45 p.m. ET (12:45 a.m. locally) in the last act of Abu Dhabi, he had big intentions. Now riding into 16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC, he kept to those intentions at the UFC 308 pay-per-view (PPV) main event against Max Holloway.

Top responses to Ilia Topuria 's UFC 308 win
Top responses to Ilia Topuria ‘s UFC 308 win (Source: X)

Both had their moments and pockets of good shots. Holloway, as usual, was the volume puncher giving bits and bobs of trouble. The champion was putting on more than some acute pressure, though nothing big at first. Ilia Topuria maintained his unbeaten record with a methodical win over former champion Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in the Etihad Arena headliner. Here are a few top reactions to it:

This is another upset after the UFC 308 feature co-main bill makes it some heavy stuff to digest. Some even quipped that ‘OG’ Holloway and BMF fans would throw tantrums if Max Holloway went down hard. But they did not. ‘Savage’ Ilia Topuria has made himself undeniable, and peers and pundits say as much.

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Neither Alexander Volkanovski nor Holloway had been stopped by strikes at featherweight, and Topuria stopped them both in consecutive bouts. He stuck to his corner, coaching, and resolve again, and got the KO in the box. A fighter to knock down Holloway is a strong case for Fighter of the Year, next year’s BEST Fighter ESPY with another tag, KOTY contender, etc.