Ilya Topuria retains his crown by defeating Max Holloway with a historic knockout at UFC 308.
Ilya Topuria (Halle, Germany, 27 years old) once again delivered on his promise and successfully defended his featherweight crown for the first time. UFCgreat promoter of world mixed martial arts. He, as usual, repeated again and again that victory was already his, and he was not mistaken. Or not really. He did not score a knockout in either the first or second round, but shortly after the start of the third round first man to knock out Max Holloway (Honolulu, Hawaii, 32 years old). His piecework training and dedication to the millimeter again bore fruit, leaving behind another true MMA legend who could not resist the strength and tenacity of the fighter. Matador over the octagon.
After a brutal exchange focusing on boxing and each participant’s best weapon, Topuria hit the nerves as soon as the third round began and he sped up when he realized that one of his right hands had touched Holloway’s left hand. Powerful combinationon the right, an anthological left leg and a knockdown to the ground, where he found himself with a large number of punches, condemned an opponent who had never fallen in this way in 34 fights and who was able to withstand his attacks for at least two rounds.
Holloway’s cardio was no match for Topuria, who said he had prepared for 10 or 15 rounds. Although he asked for an exchange in the center of the starting octagon, the Hawaiian ignored his strategy and waited to score first of the evening thanks to his low kicks. A little unexpected, Latin American Georgian searched and got deleted a minute and a half passed, but it did not continue as expected, and from then on everything focused on startling.
In the first and second rounds, Holloway landed more serious shots, but not nearly as many as in his best days. Already in the second round it became clear that Topuria was waiting for a knockout blowand one of his blows had already overloaded the American’s eardrum, hitting the area that would have completely knocked him down on the third attempt.
Last February in Anaheim, the belt confidently defeated another myth, the Australian. Alexander Volkanovskyremains on Topuria’s waist. The impeccable track record of Latin American Georgians in 2024 reinforces pioneer heritage in Spain and Georgia it’s starting to cross the borders of the two countries that celebrate it in style. After downloading two discipline icons True to his absolute conviction of victory, accompanying thick words on canvas with verified facts, he boasts an impeccable track record: 16 wins and no lossesHalf of them are already in the UFC. The fighter has ten knockoutseight submissions and two decisions that put him at the top of the company, a record that at this point has little to envy to the greats of history.
The rise of Topuria was astronomical, and this four years agoin the midst of a pandemic and in the equally brilliant environment of the United Arab Emirates, her fairy tale has begun with the queen of MMA promotion. A boy who left his country because of the war and arrived with the title of field specialist – which is normal, given his background in Greco-Roman wrestling – turned into hammer hammer capable of crushing opponents with the power of his boxing, a style that is appreciated by fans as it involves much more spectacular striking.
Victory in Etihad Arena filled with 18,000 soulsfalling in the middle of the evening, gives Topuria even more power to decide her fate. On the horizon Matador He has two clear goals. First you want to confirm UFC’s arrival in Spain in 2025, if possible, at the Santiago Bernabeu; Next will be another meeting with Volkanovski, who is present in the pavilion and went up to the Octagon to congratulate him. “If anyone deserves revenge, it’s him.” – assured the Latino-Georgian before the promise of a microphone. With her first defense of the world title, Ilya Topuria established herself as a great athlete. superstar UFC and the main standard of the new generation of great champions. Matador He dreamed about it and continues to dream about it.
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Chimaev and Magomedov close the show.
The remarkable billboard for the event, located on the recreational Yas Island, where the Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World, Sealand and other attractions of the Arab country are located, left other notable moments. Main card debut, undefeated Shara Magomedov (15-0) signed one of the most spectacular knockouts of the year with a double spinning fist, a resolution that has never been seen in the UFC octagon. Chasing Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight beltMagomed Ankalaev He left Aleksandar Rakic no options and warned the Brazilian. “Now you can start running away,” the Russian fighter dared in English.
In the constellation of the evening, Khamzat Chimaev destroyed the former middleweight champion Australian with an explosive start Robert Whittakerfailing to break free from Russian control on the ground. After a quick takedown and plenty of punishment with fists and knees, the undefeated challenger asked for a pass as he looked for a shot at the title held by South African Dricousse du Plessis.
At the preliminary stages Hand Chris Barnett He was injured before the start of the fight during his unsuccessful comeback after a two-year layoff. A native of Zaragoza, the son of an American air captain stationed in the city, lost by technical knockout to the Nigerian giant Kennedy Nzechukwumass 2.11 meters high. One of the fights of the evening was won by a Pole Mateusz Rebeckicapable of resisting the Kyrgyz Myktybek Orolbay in a fight to the point of exhaustion with both opponents covered in blood, demonstrating superhuman endurance on the canvas.
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