Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria places his title on the road for the primary time within the UFC 308 most important occasion towards former titleholder Max Holloway. Fellow former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski weighed in on the matchup throughout an interview with Kevin Iole.
Volkanovski received the 145-pound title by defeating Holloway in Dec. 2019. Topuria captured the featherweight championship by defeating Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. He holds three wins over Holloway and has educated for and been within the octagon with Topuria.
Topuria has an intensive background in grappling, however Volkanovski does not assume it will be smart to try to Holloway down.
“Max has received nice takedown protection, so I simply assume it is going to be very arduous for Ilia to get it there and maintain him there. Getting him down is fairly difficult, and submitting I believe could be fairly troublesome for Ilia. I believe Ilia would know that,” Volkanovski stated.
“I believe for him to try to search for the takedown towards somebody like Max may put on on him much more, you already know, the gasoline tank,” Volkanovski continued. “Max can do all of it day. We all know that. He is confirmed it time and time once more. I believe will probably be fairly troublesome for him to get him to the mat, to be sincere.”
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Volkanovski identified the variations in preventing types. Holloway is a quantity sticker recognized for his endurance and sturdiness. Topuria is extra of a stalking fighter with knockout energy. If the combat goes to the later rounds, Volkanovski is keen on how Topuria handles Holloway’s relentless output.
“That is going to be an actual good take a look at for Ilia. If Ilia does not catch him early, you are actually going to see how he handles being uncomfortable,” Volkanovski stated. “Within the cage, even earlier than he fought within the UFC, he hasn’t actually dealt with that an excessive amount of. He is had some adversities however not on that degree, not once you’re crumbling.”
“Clearly, Max has been there 1,000,000 instances,” Volkanovski continued. “He is simply going to get an increasing number of snug because the combat goes the place that is unknown territory for Ilia towards somebody at that degree.”
Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 308 most important occasion prediction
“Ilia’s a terrific fighter,” Volkanovksi stated. “Max has confirmed himself time and time once more. Look who Max has fought.
“I simply assume the place Ilia is robust, he would possibly nonetheless have difficulties with Max. Even when he does land them huge photographs, Max is understood for that granite chin. I believe it is going to be tougher than he thinks to land on Max, however even when he does there is a good likelihood Max can take them. Because the combat goes I believe it is going to be even tougher,” Volkanovski continued.
