What has Topuria said about UFC featherweight title fight with Holloway?

Ilia Topuria has warned Max Holloway that he will make the American “feel something that you never felt before” in the pair’s mooted clash in the Octagon, after Holloway defeated Justin Gaethje in the BMF championship at UFC 300.

Holloway challenges Topuria after Gaethje win

Holloway knocked Gaethje out in the closing seconds of the fifth and final round of their lightweight fight in Las Vegas on Saturday, with UFC commentator Joe Rogan describing the stoppage as the “KO of the century”.

Speaking after his victory, Holloway had no hesitation in challenging Topuria to a battle for the Hispano-Georgian’s UFC featherweight title, which the 27-year-old secured by beating Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February.

Referring to Topuria’s Spanish-language nickname, which translates as ‘bullfighter’, Holloway declared: “‘El Matador’, he is running away from a bull.” The Hawaiian, who is a former featherweight champion, added: “Tell him, sign the contract.”

Topuria says Holloway fight on the cards

Topuria, who was in the stands at T-Mobile Arena to see Holloway’s win over Gaethje, has confirmed that he’s set to take on the 32-year-old in his next fight.

“There’s nothing concrete yet,” Topuria told an interview with ESPN on Saturday. “But [the idea coming into UFC 300 was that] if [Holloway] came away victorious today, there was a good chance he’d be my next opponent.”

“I will be the first one to take your lights out”

And in a social-media post on Monday, Topuria praised Holloway for his weekend triumph, but warned his rival that he plans to bring him back down to Earth.

“Congrats on your performance Max,” Topuria wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Respect your story and everything you achieved with a beautiful family.

“Hopefully we gonna share the octagon before the end of the year and trust me you gonna feel something that you never felt before. I will be the first one to take your lights out. Philippians 4:13″.