UFC 318 headliner Max Holloway expressed skepticism about Ilia Topuria’s recent Ilia Topuria knockout streak, suggesting it might not be as remarkable as commonly perceived. Topuria achieved two-division championship status late last month at UFC’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas by defeating Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant lightweight belt.
This victory came after another string of powerful knockouts, including wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway himself, leading many fans and analysts to regard Topuria’s three-fight stretch as one of the most impressive in UFC history. Despite Holloway being directly involved in this sequence after a successful defense at UFC 308 last October, the Hawaiian fighter views the streak differently.
Renato Moicano Disagrees with Holloway on Topuria’s Accomplishments
While promoting Holloway’s main event fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318, the current BMF champion criticized Topuria’s knockout run, highlighting factors like Volkanovski’s knockout over Islam Makhachev, his challenging return to featherweight, and Oliveira’s inconsistent performances to question the legitimacy of Topuria’s dominance.
However, Renato Moicano, one of the leading contenders in the lightweight division, publicly disagreed with Holloway’s assessment. On his Show Me The Money podcast, Moicano stated,
“If Volk did not win the belt again, I would agree,”
expressing that since Volkanovski is now champion, he could not share Holloway’s doubts.
Moicano further emphasized the strength of Topuria’s opponents by adding,
“Max, Charles, and Volkanovski. That is an impressive résumé,”
underscoring the quality of Topuria’s knockout streak in the UFC.
Holloway Aims for a Rematch Against Topuria in Lightweight Division
Holloway cited the difficulties returning to featherweight as a factor in his loss to Topuria, who became the first fighter to knock him out cleanly. Both fighters currently compete at lightweight, creating anticipation for a potential rematch in this division.
As they prepare for their respective next fights, Holloway will aim to secure another title shot, starting with his UFC 318 bout on July 19 against Dustin Poirier in New Orleans, who is expected to retire after this fight. A victory could bring Holloway closer to challenging Topuria again at 155 pounds.
Conversely, a defeat to Poirier, who is ranked sixth in the division, would deal a substantial blow to Holloway’s chances of winning a UFC title in a new weight class, while Topuria continues to solidify his status as a dominant and fearsome champion.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Ilia Topuria Turkish?
A. Ilia Topuria, born on January 21, 1997, is a mixed martial artist with Georgian and Spanish roots. He fights in the UFC’s Lightweight division. At present, he holds the title of UFC Lightweight Champion.