Ilia Topuria has reached another level of super stardom following his spiteful third-round knockout over Max Holloway at UFC 308 last Saturday.
The 27-year-old had already established himself as the UFC’s fourth-ranked pound-for-pound star, but has now gone above and beyond to further enhance his decorated legacy.
And so, against seasoned operator Max Holloway, his scintillating surge continued as he retained his featherweight strap in emphatic fashion, halting proceedings with a devastating left hand.
In the wake of his spectacular victory, the MMA world has largely come together to celebrate the remarkable talent of Ilia Topuria, with UFC legend Daniel Cormier insisting that he is 2024’s Fighter of the Year.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC Sean O’Malley compares Ilia Topuria to Alex Pereira and calls for Islam Makhachev showdown
Topuria has now beaten two of the all-time greatest UFC featherweights, with his victory over Holloway following an equally destructive display against MMA legend Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year.
Throughout both fights, the Spaniard showcased his elite boxing prowess, utilizing his educated footwork and explosive power to produce two awe-inspiring finishes.
His performance against Holloway, though, is what has ultimately captured the imagination of former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley.
During his live reaction to the main-event clash in Abu Dhabu, ‘Suga’ made the apt comparison between Topuria and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
The pair are, after all, two formidable strikers, and continue to reign supreme over their respective divisions.
“Who, at 145 [lbs], wants to fight Ilia right now?,” O’Malley said during a watch-along on his YouTube channel.
“Ilia’s just so dangerous the whole fight. He’s a like a little f***ing Alex Pereira. You can’t tell me Islam vs f***ing Ilia isn’t a fight you would want to see.”
Could Ilia Topuria take on UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev next?
While a rematch between Topuria and Volkanovski has been heavily mooted, several members of the MMA fraternity have joined O’Malley in clamoring for a clash between Islam Makhachev and the featherweight king.
UFC lightweight champion Makhachev boasts two wins over Volkanovski and comes off a fifth-round submission against Dustin Poirier.
And even their common opponent, Volkanovski, attests that Topuria carries the power to knock the Russian out.
Yet still, it would appear that Topuria has his sights set on ruling the featherweight division for a little while longer, before stepping up to 155 lbs in pursuit of the potential mega fight.
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