UFC fighters are making their feelings clear ahead of UFC 308.
Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is set to defend his belt against two-time titleholder Max Holloway in the main event of Dana White’s latest show at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Topuria became a champion by viciously knocking out Alexander Volkanvoski, who has beaten Holloway three times, in the second round of their UFC 298 headliner in February.
MMA math suggests he’ll do the same thing to ‘Blessed’. However, many people are backing the Hawaiian to win his belt back after watching Holloway sensationally KO Justin Gaethje in the final second of their BMF bout at UFC 300 in April.
UFC stars predict Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway
BloodyElbow.com has compiled a list of UFC 308 predictions from some of MMA’s biggest stars.
Alexander Volkanovski: “I think he’ll be able to outwork him from the outside and five rounds with Max Holloway isn’t easy, especially if you’re a pop and rocker looking for that power (punch).
“Look, he might catch him, but I think it’s going to be a long and hard night for Topuria and that’s not me knocking the guy, it’s just I’ve fought Max three times, and I know how good the guy is. I know how you need to prepare for that guy,”
Israel Adesanya: “I’m going to go Max Holloway because I feel with his depth of work, the bodies he’s encountered in the octagon, the experience, the octagon time he has…I think when it comes to round four and five, that’s where he’s going to thrive.”
Tom Aspinall: “I think I’m going to go out there and say Ilia Topuria can put him down. He’s got the power, and he mixes it up so well between the disciplines. I wouldn’t be surprised if Max Holloway got dropped in this fight.”
Belal Muhammad: “I think Max is gonna beat him and we won’t hear much from him, he’s gonna go quiet after that.”
Chael Sonnen: “What will happen if Topuria knocks out Max Holloway, which, by the way, I think is the only way he’s going to beat him? I think one of these guys has got to stop the other one because that heart and grit, that ‘I’m coming after you, I’m going to keep on trying to win,’ I don’t think that’s a switch that gets flipped off.”
Max Holloway is getting a lot of love from his fellow fighters
Sean Strickland: “I like Max, he’s the man. You know, he’s a f***ing legend, he’s given us so many great fights, and every time Max fights I just pick Max.”
Robert Whittaker: “I would have to say I’m leaning towards Holloway. But in saying that, I wanna see Topuria run his story. His skill level is so high. I think it’s super underrated right now.
“Maybe that’s because of exposure, and he hasn’t been in as many headline [fights] as Holloway has because he hasn’t done the work on paper as of just yet. But gun to my head, I would have to lean towards Holloway.”
Cory Sandagen: “I’ll go Ilia. Just because I just think he’s real well-rounded. That hurts to even say, but I’ll just go Ilia.”
Curtis Blaydes: “I’m going Max.”
Kevin Lee: “It’s going to be a striking war, I think. And I think Max’s experience will probably carry him a longer way. So, if you put a gun to my head, I’m saying Max Holloway.”
Diego Lopes: “I think that will be a very interesting fight but I do lean towards Max on that one.”