ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria emphatically delivered on his promise to knock out Max Holloway on Saturday, becoming the first person to do so in Holloway's illustrious career.
Topuria (16-0) dropped Holloway (26-8) with a left hook before finishing him off with hammerfists at 1:34 of the third round.
The featherweight title fight headlined UFC 308 inside Etihad Arena and marked Topuria's first title defense. He won the belt in February with a sensational knockout of Alexander Volkanovski, another all-time great of the featherweight division. «To beat a legend like Max Holloway, I couldn't believe it,» Topuria said. «I followed his entire career, he inspired me so much in my career.
He's been a great example of a generation. I've always said that I represent the new generation. I hope I'll be a small example for the new generation.