Ilia Topuria cemented his status as one of MMA’s most fearsome punchers following his emphatic third-round stoppage over Max Holloway at UFC 308.
The formidable featherweight king went toe-to-toe with his rangy and famously durable opponent before halting proceedings with a crushing left hand.
Prior to his stunning finish, the pair engaged in a compelling shootout, with Ilia Topuria landing a series of devastating leg kicks in response to Max Holloway’s sharp counters.
However, it was of course Topuria who ultimately prevailed, coming away from yesterday’s showdown in Abu Dhabi with the 145 lb title as well as Holloway’s BMF belt.
Sean O’Malley recreated the iconic Conor McGregor meme while watching Ilia Topuria vs Max Hollway
As with any blockbuster UFC event, Conor McGregor was front and center of the initial reaction from the MMA world.
In fact, the 36-year-old even teased a future clash with Topuria in a series of social media posts, before claiming that the pound-for-pound star is ‘too small for anything substantial.’
Still, while the Irishman continued his prolific surge on social media, former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley decided to join the party too.
Following his unanimous decision defeat to Merab Dvalishvili, ‘Sugar’ is yet to reveal his next outing but could, perhaps, be eying up a move to featherweight.
Instead of calling out Topuria, though, the 30-year-old imitated the viral clip of McGregor pacing across his living room while watching the Max Holloway vs Yair Rodriguez fight back in 2021.
What’s next for Ilia Topuria following his victory at UFC 308?
Despite becoming the bona fide king at 145 lbs, Topuria seemingly still has unfinished business with UFC legend Alexander Volkanovski, who he beat for the title earlier this year.
But while his scintillating second-round stoppage at UFC 298 was both comprehensive and definitive, it would appear that a Volkanovski rematch, nonetheless, represents his most lucrative option.
The 27-year-old entertained a second encounter with the Australian in his post-fight press conference, claiming that no one is more deserving of a shot at his trinket.
And yet, with the Spaniard still clamoring to stage his next contest in Madrid, there could be several hurdles to overcome before the rematch materializes.