As predicted, Max now begins his Tony-like decline

[Elegant]

I now think Josh Emmett would've done worse to Max

 

[TheGreatA]

Never thought it was a good idea for him to go down to 145 and fight a faster guy. He can probably do some damage still at 155 where the opponents are a bit older and slower than Topuria.

 

[UppercutFromHades]

Called this; Max should have retired after the Gaethje fight. He had no chance against Topuria and will now be in full CTE-land. He can go help Volk run his deli or something.

Sincerely hope not as Max seems a very decent guy.

 

[mangokush]

This will be Max's record in the future

 

[Odoylerules22]

Speed kills. He was fine until he got hit

 

[prime_lobov]

Speed kills. He was fine until he got hit

He was getting hit a lot and the power was clearly too much for him. It was just a matter of how many rounds it was gonna take before his brain shut off.

 

[DrTrouble]

Nah, Ilia is just on another level. Max can still beat everyone else. He still looked sharp.

 

[Odoylerules22]

He was getting hit a lot and the power was clearly too much for him. It was just a matter of how many rounds it was gonna take before his brain shut off.

I mean he was getting hit at points, but everyone does. He was keeping the fight at his range though and toperia was missing a bit.

 

[HatKick]

lol at people saying Max was doomed from the start. Actually he was doing great, winning both rounds imo. But against a guy like Top one punch can change the fight and that's what happened. If that punch didn't land the way it landed... we could be looking at a tough back and forth war of attrition type of fight that could've gone either way.

Not trying to take anything away from Top. He achieved greatness tonight. Just don't act like it wasn't competitive.

 

[volcom5]

Yeah both Max and Volk looked good until they got cracked, Ilia just hits like a mini mack truck.

If Volk gets the rematch he needs to wrestle for as long as possible, make it boring if he has too, only way he can possibly win, but that said Ilia can wrestle so he might be fucked LOL.

I think Volkanovksi will be fine on the ground, he was doing great against Makhachev who I think is a far better wrestler than Topuria. Where Volkanovksi is fucked is his game planning, via Edmond Bareman, who incorporates lots of Adesanyas stick and move type of fighting style with Volk. Topuria is just too fast, powerful, aggressive with far better technique in his boxing for Volkanovksi. I still think Topuria beats Volkanovski though if this fight occurs again.

 

[prime_lobov]

lol at people saying Max was doomed from the start. Actually he was doing great, winning both rounds imo. But against a guy like Top one punch can change the fight and that's what happened. If that punch didn't land the way it landed... we could be looking at a tough back and forth war of attrition type of fight that could've gone either way.

Not trying to take anything away from Top. He achieved greatness tonight. Just don't act like it wasn't competitive.

Nah man, Max looked like he was about to die every time Topuria landed.

 

[mirko>anyone]

The underdog lost. You called it.

 

[prime_lobov]

The underdog lost. You called it.

Yeah you’re right, it was obvious, but a lot of Sherdoggers were acting like Max had a chance.

 

[El Fernas]

He didn’t get completely dominated, people are idiots and just focus on the finish, Holloway was doing great until he got caugh by arguably the most powerful puncher at 145. Same thing with Volkanovksi against Topuria he was doing great. It’s not comparable to what Gaethje did to Ferguson who he beat from pillar to post.

For some reason some sherdoggers are trying to make it look like Topuria was up 2-0, he wasnt, 1-1 at best, and one judge actually had it that way, the other two..well, MMA judges gonna judge, no needed fortunately, no controversy.

 

[Tchernobog]

155 might be a better fit at this stage in his career to avoid the weight cut and protect his brain. Gaethje was compromised for most of that fight though, took multiple eye pokes, etc.

Meh, you're just trying to discredit his win...Max looked objectively great in that fight

Fighting a beast like Ilia will make you look bad, especially with the age and mileage Holloway has and at a weight his body isn't suited for anymore. Max getting finished doesn't necessarily mean he's in for T Ferg levels of decline, just that he's done being a player at 145 imo

 

[DiazSlap]

Called this; Max should have retired after the Gaethje fight. He had no chance against Topuria and will now be in full CTE-land. He can go help Volk run his deli or something.

Tony “El Cookoo” > Blessed Cornball Max

 

[DoctorStoppage]

I didn’t like Max dropping back down to 145 and thought he should have stayed at 155. Seems like that’s his next move now anyway.

 

[GordoBarraBJJ]

I think that you are right - maybe not as bad as tony but his chin has now been cracked.

I think it was a bit of the RJJ effect - putting on muscle to bulk up then dropping back down fairly soon (too a weight that he always looked horrible making weight for).

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

@ me when Max throws holy water at his wife and proclaims his kid the next incarnation of Jesus Christ

 

[Steve Fox]

Yeah you’re right, it was obvious, but a lot of Sherdoggers were acting like Max had a chance.

It is a fight. There's always a chance and Max is one of the greats. Can never be counted out. Legendary fighter! Topuria is a beast, one day, he will also be knocked out.. Such is life.