Former bantamweight champ believes he has a "great style to neutralize" Ilia Topuria's offense: "Most of these guys are striking with him"
At UFC 308 last weekend, featherweight champ Ilia Topuria did something a lot of people considered impossible: knock Max Holloway out. Coming into their championship battle, Holloway was considered by many as the owner of the hardest chin in MMA, having never suffered even a knockdown in his 14-year career.
The MMA world went crazy over the champion's KO win, with fans, media outlets, and fellow fighters giving their thoughts on 'El Matador' on social media.
One fellow fighter who gave his opinion on the champ was former UFC bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling. 'Funkmaster' said:
"If I were to fight him, you know, God willing, Inshalla, I beat Movzar [Evloev] and do get the crack, I do think I have a great style to neutralize his offense. Bro, most of these guys are striking with him. I ain't doing that, bro. We sitting there looking for our takedown, then we're gonna make it a grappling match. I'm trying to get the dub, I'm not trying to get my head and my brain sent into the next dimension again."
Check out Aljamain Sterling's comments here:
Dana White not interested in an Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev superfight
Before UFC 308, Ilia Topuria expressed interest in moving up to lightweight to challenge Islam Makhachev for the title should he get past Holloway. However, this idea was squashed early by UFC president Dana White, who expressed his disinterest in booking the superfight in an interview with TMZ ahead of UFC 308 last weekend.
White said:
"Before we start talking about guys moving up to other weight classes, I mean, look at Max Holloway. When he moved up, he had wiped out the entire division [and proved to be] the best 145-pounder, and then Volkanovski [did the same]. So there’s plenty of challenges [left] for him [Topuria] at 145."
There is still a large pool of contenders waiting for a shot at Ilia Topuria at 145 - even after the Holloway win. Holloway had one unification bout and two title defenses before moving up to lightweight to face Dustin Poirier. Volkanovski had four title defenses before challenging Makhachev's 155-pound throne.
Check out Dana White's comments here: