Aljamain Sterling recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming featherweight title fight between current champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway at UFC 308.
“El Matador” is getting ready to defend his title against Holloway for the first time in the main event of an eagerly anticipated pay-per-view event scheduled to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on October 26.
Topuria won the 145-pound title with a spectacular knockout of former champion Alexander Volkanovski in the second round at UFC 298 in February. He has achieved five victories in less than two rounds, defeating tough opponents like Bryce Mitchell, Jai Herbert, and Josh Emmett.
On the other hand, “Blessed” is ready for his third attempt to regain the featherweight title he lost to Volkanovski in December 2019. Despite falling short in two rematch efforts, Holloway has bounced back with three consecutive wins. Most recently, he secured a last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje in a lightweight bout at UFC 300 in April, claiming the BMF championship in the process.
Topuria is known for his aggressive striking and powerful grappling, while Holloway’s experience and resilience make him a formidable opponent.
“Funk Master” believes that if Holloway can effectively control the distance and make the most of his reach advantage, he stands a good chance of beating Topuria.
Sterling Predicts Holloway Might Push Topuria To His Limits In Championship Rounds
During a recent appearance on Verse Us with Eric Nicksick, Sterling shared his thoughts on the Topuria vs. Holloway fight at UFC 308. The former UFC bantamweight champion recognized Topuria’s knockout power but also highlighted some potential weaknesses.
Sterling thinks that if Holloway can keep the fight standing and use his striking skills accurately, it could spell trouble for the champion.
“Topuria is a savage; that guy can crack, but he struggled with Volkanovski in the first round,” Sterling said. “Enter Max Holloway: great footwork, high guard, long punches. He has shorter reach than Volkanovski, but his footwork helps him immensely, and he has great durability. So if he can use his kicking game and stay in his range—it would be very interesting to see what happens in the later rounds.”
“Funk Master” also pointed out that Topuria’s cardio has not been fully tested yet, and he suggested that if Holloway can extend the fight to the championship rounds while maintaining a strategic striking approach, it could present another challenge for the undefeated Topuria.
“We haven’t seen Topuria get tired yet. In round five with Josh Emmett, he was in control the whole time, but what happens if you set a little fatigue in him—failed takedown attempts, or if Max can get back up—it makes the fight very interesting. If Max gets back to the old-school Max, it’s a very intriguing fight.”
