Max Holloway, one of the most respected and seasoned fighters in the featherweight division, has never been shy about speaking his mind.
But in the buildup to his fight with Ilia Topuria, the 32-year-old fighter has been particularly vocal about his opponent’s persona.
Holloway has accused Topuria of ‘copying Conor McGregor’ in every way – from his attitude to his confidence, even down to his tattoos.
Like McGregor, Topuria has a chest piece that features a large animal – in his case, a wolf – and bold, dark outlines that Holloway argues are trying too hard to emulate the Irish superstar’s iconic gorilla chest tattoo.
Speaking to the press in Abu Dhabi, Holloway said: ‘[The way he acts] just makes no sense. To me, I don’t think he deserves the right to act the way he does – you’ve got to earn that right.
Max Holloway (pictured) unleashed a verbal tirade on UFC 308 rival Ilia Topuria
The featherweight stars will go head-to-head for the title at UFC 308 on Saturday night
‘I don’t think he deserves that right. I mean, you guys know the guy he’s copycatting [Conor McGregor]. This guy is a copycat down to his tattoos, to his aura, to the way he’s approaching fights.
‘The guy is a copycat. At the end of the day, I think you’ve got to earn that moment, and I believe he could have earned it with Josh Emmett.
‘In their five-round war, Josh Emmett was trying to swing. If you guys go back to that fight and watch what happened, when Josh Emmett tried to swing, someone shot, and someone held someone down for the rest of the fight.
‘So, I think the moment needs to be earned, and he’s just trying to steal stuff. He’s already trying to steal one person’s aura, and now he’s trying to steal somebody else’s thing.’
Topuria, who has quickly climbed the ranks in the featherweight division with his undefeated UFC record, is known for his unshakeable confidence.
Much like McGregor during his meteoric rise, Topuria has often dismissed his opponents with bravado, claiming to be the future of the division.
Holloway said Topuria (left) has ‘copied’ Conor McGregor (right) – even down to his tattoos
McGregor (left) also has a large tattoo running down his spine, with a winged tattoo at the top
Topuria (right) has an incredibly similar tattoo to the Irishman that also runs down his spine
He’s not one to back down from a verbal exchange, and his bold predictions of knocking out Holloway have made headlines.
But Holloway is adamant he can see through the confident facade and says Topuria is only fouling himself.
‘His mind is very interesting’, Holloway said. ‘But if that’s what it takes to be the best version of himself come Saturday night then so be it. He can talk all that talk he wants because at the end of the day, he still has to see me in three days.’
For Holloway, who has been in the UFC for over a decade, confidence in the cage is earned through battle-tested experience, not through press conferences or social media soundbites.
However, the fight itself is shaping up to be a classic matchup of experience versus momentum.
Holloway comes into the fight off the back of an impressive KO victory against Justin Gaethje
Holloway, with his decorated career, holds victories over some of the division’s all-time greats, including Jose Aldo, Brian Ortega and, recently, lightweight star Justin Gaethje.
Despite a recent loss to Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway remains a top contender, and a victory over Topuria would solidify his position as the gatekeeper to the featherweight throne.
Topuria, however, enters the fight riding a wave of momentum. Undefeated in his UFC career, he has showcased a mix of striking power and submission skills that make him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division.
Watch UFC 308 exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office from 5pm on Saturday 26 October. For more info: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
