The list of potential challengers for Ilia Topuria grew thanks to Max Holloway's efforts on UFC 318.
Holloway at the same time kept a title in his possession and stimulated his hope to win another with his performance in the Pay-per-View main event on Saturday in New Orleans Smoothie King Center.
The BMF champion had the rare role of villain in Louisiana, because he served as the opponent for Dustin Poirier's pension fight on UFC 318. And the Hawaiian played Spoiler by taking his revenge on 'The Diamond' for his previous two losses against him.
In the aftermath of his decision victory on July 19, Holloway made it clear that he wants a second chance to take lightweight King Ilia Topurias '0'.
Alexander Volkanovski sent Ilia Topuria a warning as he predicted the great UFC 318 victory of Max Holloway
While he appeared on Fox Sports during the UFC 318 Fight Week, Alexander Volkanovski predicted that his former triple opponent would return to winning ways in style on Fight Night.
“There are few who can bounce in a positive way (from a KO),” said Volkanovski. “(Holloway) is the type of man who will make the right adjustments and come back, not only the same man he was, perhaps even better.”
And that has now made his later comments relevant, as the Australian suggested that if Holloway could prove his improvements and bounce back skills on UFC 318, Topuria could stand in line for a rematch that would be far from just sails.
“Ilia always becomes a hard matchup for everyone. He always gets that chance to eliminate him,” acknowledged Volkanovski.
“But what would Max have learned from that? We will see … If Max comes out and improves himself, it is probably an even more difficult fight for Ilia the next time they are confronted.
“You know that Max will probably find a safer approach now because he is still really good with his movement,” Volkanovski continued. “He probably supported his chin and took more risks. Maybe he doesn't take so many risks.”
Dana White had good news for Ilia Topuria with regard to a Max Holloway -Rematch
When it comes to selecting an opponent for his title defense, Topuria recently received an added incentive to insist on a second confrontation with Holloway.
In the meeting that Topuria saw in 2024 Holloway Knock -Out, only the belt of the Spaniard featherweight was on the line. But 'El Matador' did not stop that to comprehend himself as the real BMF champion.
In a rematch, however, Topuria can get the chance to claim the actual BMF belt.
That is after UFC CEO Dana White confirmed during his press conference at UFC 318 that the reigning lightweight champion has earned the right to compete for the BMF belt, in addition to placing its gold on the line in a possible rematch with 'blessed'.