Ilia Topuria will be ready for war against Max Holloway in the opening moments of their huge UFC clash.
‘El Matador’ is set to be challenged by ‘Blessed’ for his featherweight championship title in the octagon at UFC 308 on October 26.
Topuria is ready to defend his UFC featherweight title this monthGetty
Topuria’s previous victory over Alexander Volkanovski extended his unbeaten professional record to 15-0 four years after his UFC debut.
Holloway has been defeated on seven occasions but the MMA veteran will still provide a huge test in the main event in Abu Dhabi.
While some fans may see the fight going the distance, Topuria seems keen on a first-round win by replicating his opponent’s own gesture.
“In the first ten seconds of the fight, I’m gonna point to the ground and we’ll see what he’s going to do,” he told The Ariel Helwani Show.
“I will be in the middle of the octagon, so let’s bang bro. If you’re ready, I was born ready.”
Topuria was referring to the signal that Holloway made in the final moments of his BMF [baddest m***********] title win against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
Holloway was on course for victory in the fifth and final round but wanted to end it in style, so he pointed towards the floor.
The gesture was seemingly an invitation for Gaethje to have one final chance of winning but he was deceived by the smart tactic.
He was able to land a punch but it failed to make an impact on Holloway, who then sent him onto the canvas with a huge overhand right shot to end the fight with just a second remaining.
“So you are predicting this, you are saying first ten seconds, you’re going to walk to the middle of the cage…” Helwani asked Topuria.
During his last fight against Gaethje, Holloway pointed to the floorGetty
He gestured to invite a thrown down but won with a vicious shot insteadGetty
Topuria wants to do this himself against Holloway at UFC 308The Ariel Helwani Show YouTube
The reigning featherweight champion replied: “Of course. First ten seconds, I’m going to point [to] the middle of the octagon and I will stay there.
“I want to give the best and the most exciting ten seconds in the UFC history to the fans, they deserve it.
“And if he stays in the middle, I promise I’m gonna knock him out, I’m gonna take his head off. I prepare myself for that.”
When queried on whether or not Holloway will meet him in the middle, Topuria responded: “I don’t know, I don’t know, we’ll see. He’s calling himself the BMF, so…
“That’s one of the things we’re gonna find out, if he’s the BMF or he’s a p**** like everyone who is predicting that I’m going to lose to Max Holloway. I’ve watched the predictions of all the UFC fighters, they are predicting that he’s going to beat me.
“All the bums, f*** you everyone. After I’m going to knock him out, don’t even tell me hello if you see me around. Go f*** yourselves everyone.”
Topuria recently told Holloway to his face that he’s going to be the first fighter to knock him out, with fireworks set for their upcoming clash.