Ilia Topuria now faces the worst hours before Saturday’s fight against Max Hollowaythe last days of weight loss that he combines with training and business commitments. It was this Tuesday, when, precisely in a shift of media interviews, he issued a warning to his opponent: he plans to end the fight after knocking him down before the fifth round, what no one has achieved until now.
“It makes me very happy that no one has ever been able to knock down Max and I have no doubt that I’m going to be the first to turn off the light. For everyone it will be like, ‘wow,'” he said when asked about the difference with his opponent, who is recognized as having one of the strongest jaws in the world for his ability to withstand blows.
Ilia is clear that the fight is going to end before the scheduled five rounds: “We are not going to reach the fifth round, whatever he does, he is screwed,” he commented in a mocking tone towards his opponent. Topuria has already warned that he plans to point to the floor of the octagon after the first 10 seconds of the fight, a challenge that Holloway has declared that the Hispano-Georgian does not deserve.
“This is what I’m going to do, I don’t care what he thinks or if I deserve it or not, at what point have I asked him what I deserve? I’m going to show him the ropes, If you don’t want to do it, it will be your decision.but I’m going to go out and I’m going to aim at the ground,” he concluded.
In the same interview, Topuria outlined his plan for the coming years: “I don’t want to be the typical guy who defends the title 30,000 times, I like fights that generate expectations, which really represent a challenge for me,” he said. Therefore, he said that, if he receives “the call from the UFC” and they “give him the OK to move to lightweight,” he will be there.
