UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has said that Ilia Topuria will be the first to officially knock Max Holloway down at UFC 308.
The pair are set to clash this weekend at the UFC’s annual pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, UAE. MMA fans worldwide are praising the UFC for the depth of the card, topped by a clash for featherweight gold.
Topuria (15-0) claimed the tag of best 145-er in the world when he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski back in February. Across from him will be Holloway (26-7), who has been looking to reclaim his spot at the top of the division since losing the belt in 2019.
Famously, the Hawaiian has great durability and is yet to be officially knocked down. But, breaking down the fight for TNT Sports’ YouTube channel, Tom Aspinall believes this Saturday may be the day that this 33-fight streak of no knockdowns ends.
He said: “I think he’s going to keep him guessing with the takedowns. The threat is there and that can affect your defensive boxing because [when] you’re thinking about the takedowns, your hands are low being ready for the shot when punches are coming over the top.
“I think I’m going to go out there and say – Ilia Topuria can put him down. He’s got the power to, and he mixes it up so well between the disciplines. I would not be surprised if Max Holloway got dropped in this fight.”
Max Holloway Says He Has Already Been Dropped, Ilia Topuria Looking to Be the Second Man
While the UFC’s statisticians proclaim that ‘Blessed’ is yet to hit the canvas, the 29-year-old himself says that he has in fact been dropped.
During round four of his famous fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, Holloway was clipped on a clinch exit and his knee hit the ground. It was controversially not counted as an official knockdown. But, in an April appearance on the JRE MMA Show, Holloway admitted that it should have been counted.
He said: “It didn’t count as a drop, which is crazy. ESPN is like posting it saying in however many fights I’m with the UFC, I didn’t get dropped. I’m like, that’s some bullsh*t – get Justin down. I’ll take it, you know what I mean? I wouldn’t be a man sitting here and telling you that I didn’t [get dropped].”
“I was fine. As soon as I got up, it was one of those like, boom, the legs just give out – I was still there even when I was standing, I was looking at him. I don’t know how that didn’t count as a drop, I don’t know what they count as a drop. That was crazy.”
Quotes via Bloody Elbow
How will Topuria and Holloway play out at UFC 308? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
