Topuria’s biggest hesitation to Holloway before the fight: from the threat to “turn off the light” to calling him a “hillbilly” because of the languages

There are just a few hours left until one of the most followed fights of the year in the UFC. The Hispano-Georgian Ilia Topuria faces Hawaiian Max Holloway this Saturday nightcurrent number two in the ranking, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

In recent days, while both were preparing to give the necessary weigh-in for the fight, they also carried out an exchange of statements that have increased the tension.

Last Tuesday, Topuria already publicly declared his intentions towards Holloway. “It makes me very happy that no one has ever been able to knock down Max and I have no doubt that I will be the first to turn off the light“, said the featherweight champion then.

Ilia’s first verbal blow did not stop there. He made it clear that Holloway has nothing to do in this fight: “We are not going to reach the fifth round, whatever he does, he is screwed”.

“I’m going to show you the ground, if you don’t want to do it it will be your decision, but I’m going to go out and I’m going to aim at the ground“Topuria stated, ensuring that he doesn’t care “what he thinks.”

A few days later, Topuria said of Holloway that “calling him the best boxer in the UFC is a shame but he is a great striker with a lot of experience. On Saturday night he will feel something that no rival has presented to him. “It will be completely different.”

After these statements came Ilia’s challenge to Holloway, whom she urged to meet in the center of the cage. during the first 10 seconds of the fightbut the Hawaiian rejected and Topuria returned to the fray.

“Is it already cracking? If you stand, you’re knocked out. If I were another type of fighter, Yair Rodríguez or Brian Ortega, he would want to stand the first 10 seconds. I’m the one who runs the risk, why don’t you want to do it?” he responded.

And Topuria added: “I have never asked him if I deserve it or not. If he wants to be with me in the center, fine, let him prove that he is the real BMF, if not, I will find another way to rip his head off.”

Ilia’s attacks on Holloway continued in Thursday’s confrontation. In it, Topuria laughed at his rival for not knowing how to speak several languageswhen the Hawaiian was questioned by a journalist in English: “Hick! That’s what he is, because he only knows how to speak English, and then he makes fun of mine.”