Max Holloway says that Ilia Topuria is one of the largest pound-for-pound punchers in the UFC.
But is he the most difficult batter he has ever fought? Not entirely, says the BMF champion.
In 34 Pro fights, 30 of which were in the UFC, Max Holloway was only eliminated once in his career and that was in his most recent fight at UFC 308.
Newly crowned UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria claimed that he would be the first for Ko Holloway and he did this on spectacular fashion, floors Holloway in the third round to defend his featherweight belt in October.
Despite the unprecedented result, the veteran Holloway finds the feeling that he has hit his UFC career harder.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Max Holloway compares the power of Justin Gaethje with Ilia Topuria: 'I felt some things'
According to the UFC statistics, Topuria was the first hunter to bring Holloway down.
In the fight earlier, however, BMF champion Justin Gaethje Holloway had dropped in round 4 of their BMF title match at UFC 300. Holloway got up quickly and recovered, making it out of the round to score a KO at the last Zoemer.
In an interview with Stake.com, Holloway said that Gaethje is noticeably harder than Topuria gone with him after five rounds, but gives 'El Matador' the respect he deserves that he is the first to put him out.
“I was asked how hard he really struck?” Holloway said about Topuria.
“When I was there, I didn't feel that this guy hit so much harder [than other opponents]. But the man has to hit hard. Because when you are hit hard, your body will do something that is not used to. And then you think about yourself, what the hell is it?
“But comparing his thrust. When I fought against Gaethje, I felt a number of things,” Holloway continued.
Gaethje has some of the most devastating legs in MMA, a potential key to victory against a boxer like Topuria.
“I felt that Gaethje hits hard and Gaethje kicks hard. When he hit me, I was nothing like:” Oh man, he gets hard or whatever “.
“But you have to say that he hits hard because you see what happens to people when he touches them,” Holloway said about Topuria.
“So at the end of the day it might be difficult to deny that he might be one of the biggest punchers in the UFC history, certainly pound for pounds.”
Former enemy Josh Emmett Details why Ilia Topuria can hit so hard
Together with Holloway, Josh Emmett does not think that Topuria is getting so fast – at least not as hard as then Ige.
Although former enemies such as Charles Oliveira say that they have never gotten harder than by Topuria, Emmett explains why 'El Matador' can generate so much strength.
“The thing with Ilia is that his footwork is good,” Emmett told Danny Segura of MMA Junkie.
“He is always in a really good position.
“He is fast, and he is very accurate and accurate. He does not load 100%.
“He lands [with] The accuracy and precision, at the speed, and that is where the power is, “said Emmett.
Emmett is the only hunter who survives five rounds with the undefeated Finisher Topuria.