Former UFC champ shares terrifying Ilia Topuria insights in the aftermath of Max Holloway KO: “Knocked out three guys in training"
Ilia Topuria called himself the future of mixed martial arts, and after his sensational knockout win over Max Holloway, people have started to believe him. The Spaniard became the first fighter to defeat Holloway by KO when they clashed at UFC 308 on Oct. 26.
The show-stopping power of the featherweight champion has been on full display in his last two fights. Prior to facing 'Blessed', Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to hand him his first-ever defeat at 145 pounds when they faced off at UFC 298.
But the 27-year-old is not only a striker. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grew up training in Greco-Roman wrestling.
As the legend of the surging Spaniard continues to grow, former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez recently shared some eye-opening details of Topuria in the training room at Kill Cliff FC, where the likes of Michael Chandler and Gilbert Burns train.
Alvarez appeared on Red Hawk Recap hosted by Tim Welch following UFC 308 and said this:
"I heard through my Kill Cliff buddies that he went over there and knocked out three guys in training. And the Dagestanis couldn't take him down and he was taking them down. I overhear things in training, and I'm more concerned with the training than I am the fight. Because in the fight you only get a little bit of time to display what you've got."
He continued:
"To hear he went down to Kill Cliff and knocked out three of his training partners and was willingly taking down the Dagestani guys, what holes are we dealing with... He started his career just [submitting] guys, this guy is a weapon all over."
Check out Eddie Alvarez discussing Ilia Topuria below (24:45):
Alex Volkanovski answers if Ilia Topuria could knock out Islam Makhachev
Ilia Topuria's back-to-back wins over Alex Volkanovski and Max Holloway have left him seeking bigger challenges and the featherweight champion has identified Islam Makhachev as his next potential target.
Prior to facing Holloway at UFC 308, 'El Matador' stated that he would be the first fighter to submit Makhachev, should they face off.
Having faced both the 145-pound and 155-pound champions, Volkanovski was asked to comment on the Spaniard's prediction for a fight with Makhachev during an interview with Ariel Helwani, to which he answered:
"The submission, I don't see that happening. Can he knock Islam out? Of course, he can knock anyone out in [featherweight and lightweight]."
Check out Alexander Volkanovski's comments on Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria below (33:50):