ABU DHABI – When the concept first was proposed that Max Holloway may problem for Ilia Topuria’s featherweight title, Topuria had what appeared to be a pure query.
Would Holloway’s new BMF belt be on the road, too? It stood to cause, Topuria argued, that it ought to.
The MMA world now is aware of that it wasn’t a part of the deal this previous Saturday at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, the place Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), the UFC’s first champion from Spain, defended the featherweight belt with a stunner of a knockout within the third spherical. Former longtime champ Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) this by no means had been knocked out.
Making issues barely extra dramatic was the actual fact Topuria mentioned he’d be the primary to do it to Holloway, then backed it up – not essentially in opposition to all odds, however definitely in opposition to a lot of them.
The aggressive nature if the battle earlier than Holloway had his lights turned out made it appear, looking back, that it may’ve been a BMF title battle just like the one Holloway was in when he completed Justin Gaethje with one second left. That little bit of immediate legend is what obtained Holloway the title shot.
Even UFC CEO Dana White, after the actual fact, mentioned it might need been good to have each belts contested.
“Topuria’s belt was on the road; Max was attempting to take that,” White mentioned after UFC 308 in rationalization of why the promotion didn’t carry the BMF strap into the image. “Midway by the second spherical, I mentioned, ‘Sh*t, we must always have put the Dangerous Motherf*cker title up for this battle, too, as a result of these guys are each (a BMF).’”
Holloway mentioned after his loss that he’s prone to transfer to light-weight. That wouldn’t have an effect on the BMF belt, although. It simply could also be some time earlier than Holloway will get again on the horse, and when he does, it stays to be seen if will probably be in the kind of battle that may warrant the symbolic belt being up for grabs.
White was simply as uncertain what is going to occur with it.
“I don’t know what we’ll do with it but, however Max nonetheless has it. Max holds the title, so we’ll see what occurs,” he mentioned.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 308.
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Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway at UFC 308: Finest images from Abu Dhabi
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