Ilia Topuria claims Max Holloway is ‘very nervous’ and ‘struggling’ with the pressure after he kept silent during intense UFC 308 face-off

Ahead of what should be a night to remember out in Abu Dhabi, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and title challenger Max Holloway faced off for one final time at yesterday’s ceremonial weigh-ins.

Whilst ‘El Matador’ was happily chirping away, Max Holloway refused to even acknowledge the featherweight champion’s words; according to the Spanish-Georgian sensation, the silence was simply more proof that ‘Blessed’ is nervous for their title showdown.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCIlia Topuria believes he’s under Holloway’s skin after intense final face-off15-0 superstar Ilia Topuria defends his featherweight world championship title in just a few hours’ time in the main event of UFC 308 out in Abu Dhabi against former king, Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway.

Yet as we countdown to what’s expected to be a Fight of the Year contender, Topuria believes that he’s already up 1-0 to the former champion as he took the reigns at the pre-fight ceremonial weigh-ins.

“Let’s go brother, let’s go,” stated Topuria, with the UFC cameras catching some of the exchange as Holloway stood silently: “I’m the best in the world, I’m the best in the world and you’re in for a hard night trying to beat me.

“Trust me, I am the best in the world, and I’ve worked my ass off… The victory is mine, I’m going to be world champion [still], trust me.”

Speaking to TNT Sports after the final face-off, Topuria would reveal more of what was said as he claimed Holloway’s silence was evidence of him being “very, very nervous” ahead of what’ll be the Hawaiian’s 10th title fight.

“I told him that I’m the best fighter in the world and that I have worked my ass off and the victory will be my only option tomorrow night… That was the conversation I had with him, but I didn’t get any answer from his side, he seems to be very, very nervous and he is struggling a lot.

UFC 308: Dustin Poirier disputes claim that Holloway has never been knocked down as he shares prediction for title fight“I don’t want him to compare me with anyone he’s faced in the past [because] I am different,” stated the 15-0 superstar, who rides into UFC 308 as the slight betting favorite at around -250.

“He calls himself a problem solver but tomorrow night he’s going to have a problem in front of him called ‘El Matador’… He calls himself ‘The Bull’ and we all know what the Matador does with the bull, and the same thing is what is going to happen tomorrow night. I will be the first one to knock him out, trust me.”

Topuria was joined at the UFC 308 ceremonial weigh-ins by superstar soccer (football) player Sergio Ramos, with the UFC Europe camera crew catching a brief exchange between the two.

“He doesn’t talk, does he? The other guy, right,” asked Ramos: “He seems scared already, nothing, he hasn’t said a thing.”

“I am the best in the world, and he knows it,” replied Topuria.

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