Following his impressive knockout victory over former champion Max Holloway at UFC 308, Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has been receiving nothing but praise. This win marked the first time in Holloway’s 14-year MMA career that he was knocked out.
Just months prior, Topuria had also knocked out longtime champion Alexander Volkanovski, solidifying his status as one of the best punchers in MMA according to legendary coach Firas Zahabi of Tristar Gym.
Zahabi expressed his admiration for Topuria’s punching power, stating, “Ilia Topuria was able to knock out the man that many others couldn’t. He’s probably the best pound-for-pound puncher in MMA today.”
Topuria, who has a mixed record of knockout and submission wins, is hailed for his well-rounded fighting style. Zahabi predicts that “El Matador” will hold onto the 145-pound championship for a significant amount of time.
“I think Ilia Topuria is going to be champion for a long time,” Zahabi remarked. “I was incredibly impressed. It was incredible that he knocked him out in round 3.”
