Why I think Max Holloway will defeat Ilia Topuria

[GloveParadox]

Max Holloway defeats Ilia Topuria

Max Holloway has faced the best of the UFC featherweights and I believe he has the tools to beat Ilia. He has insane striking volume and a legendary chin and Ilia hasn’t really faced a striker like holloway who can barrage him with punches and kicks. As long as Max can avoid the power shots of Ilia he will win by decision based on strikes alone.

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

Are you AI

 

[GloveParadox]

Are you AI

Only if you want me to be

 

[moreorless87]

The problem is I think Max has always tended to depend a lot on his chin walking though offence to land his volume and Topuria is arguably the biggest puncher he's ever faced,

I mean Volk is also a pretty effective volume puncher but you saw he didnt want to commit nearly as much to that against Illa and then got KOed anyway.

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[GloveParadox]

The problem is I think Max has always tended to depend a lot on his chin walking though offence to land his volume and Topuria is arguably the biggest puncher he's ever faced,

I mean Volk is also a pretty effective volume puncher but you saw he didnt want to commit nearly as much to that against Illa and then got KOed anyway.

​

The problem with Volk is many people are saying he was already wary of the KO because of his knockout lost to Islam couple months before. Max is coming off a lot of steam because he did eat some heavy shots from Gathje. The only thing I think will matter is whether Max’s chin holds up if it does I can see him outstriking ilia. I think the takedowns won’t play too much of a factor

 

[Streeter]

Fairly certain Topi doesn't strike as hard as Gaethje. If Max took Justin's best he can take Topi as well. If Max can win 1 of first 3 rds ai think he wins as I believe he takes rds 4 an 5....

 

[MRudi]

I bet on Ilia. Max is old and weared, and these are small categories.
0-16 guys over 35 in title shots and even though Max is only 33, he is still a guy, who has a ton of volume behind him. I mean - in MMA not only counts the age, but even more the damage.
Ilia hits hard, is younger, faster and his boxing is the best in FW since Connor.

And even if it goes to decision - UFC wants an undefeated champ, their star power is right now so low.

 

[Rubios]

He will because he is a better -much better, IMO- boxer, has a big reach advantage and his TDD should be enough.
Plus Ilia doesn't like to be on the back foot, and Max will most probably force him to.

The main question is how Max comes down back to 145. If he translates fine, he should be a strong favorite.

 

[HolmeZy55]

Topuria is arguably the biggest puncher he's ever faced

I would say Gaethje hits harder than Top and Max ate his shots and then slumped him, he also ate all of Dustin's shots who probably hits harder than little Top as well.

Max is going to eat the manlets shots then put a beating on him.

 

[Rubios]

Lol @ Ilia being the best boxer in the UFC.

He is technically super solid, compact, composed, doesn't get exposed and launches hard and fast combos. He switches levels very well, too.

That being said, he has not the hand speed, reaction time and angles Max has, because Max IS the best boxer in the UFC.

And I don't care if he gets hit a bit too much. His chin allows him to get one to land two.
Maybe against someone with heavy fists as Ilia he fights safer.

Just from the top of my head, without giving a depth thinking, Dustin is also a better boxer than Topuria.
i'm not considering HW since they are apples to oranges, but Aspinall has a case.

And obviously Volk, healthy, well prepared Volk, is a whole level above.

 

[hector domino]

Fairly certain Topi doesn't strike as hard as Gaethje. If Max took Justin's best he can take Topi as well. If Max can win 1 of first 3 rds ai think he wins as I believe he takes rds 4 an 5....

nah Justin may have more power but he's not half the boxer Topuria is and barely landed on Max. Max would get rattled and stumbled by effective offence of Ilia and will either get overwhelmed by the better boxer but might go to late in the fight to test Ilia's Cardio and might win near the end. BUT imo so far Topuria has all the showings of a GOAT candidate

 

[chinarice]

Fairly certain Topi doesn't strike as hard as Gaethje. If Max took Justin's best he can take Topi as well. If Max can win 1 of first 3 rds ai think he wins as I believe he takes rds 4 an 5....

He took Justin's best with ease and got rocked numerous times by Dustin, who doesn't hit as hard as Justin.

Hitting hard doesn't matter if you can't land clean. Ilia is a much better boxer than Justin and can find ways to land clean shots, I'm sure.

 

[burningspear]

Lol @ Ilia being the best boxer in the UFC.

He is technically super solid, compact, composed, doesn't get exposed and launches hard and fast combos. He switches levels very well, too.

That being said, he has not the hand speed, reaction time and angles Max has, because Max IS the best boxer in the UFC.

And I don't care if he gets hit a bit too much. His chin allows him to get one to land two.
Maybe against someone with heavy fists as Ilia he fights safer.

Just from the top of my head, without giving a depth thinking, Dustin is also a better boxer than Topuria.
i'm not considering HW since they are apples to oranges, but Aspinall has a case.

And obviously Volk, healthy, well prepared Volk, is a whole level above.

You need to watch more boxing.

 

[Chaotic Progressor]

You may be right. He's long n rangey n spangly, but showed he can put a beat down and knock out a durable, bigger guy @ Justin.

Interesting fight. I'd veer towards Maximus too.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

And even if it goes to decision - UFC wants an undefeated champ, their star power is right now so low.

Ilia isn't a star yet, not by a mile. The only thing that would make him one is spectacularly knocking Max out.
I've got Max by TKO in the late rounds as we've never seen Ilia on the back foot. I bet against him when it came to Gaethje, regretted it.

The main question is how Max comes down back to 145. If he translates fine, he should be a strong favorite.

Max has long been one of the largest cutters in the UFC and has comfortably gone up and down, I'm sure he'll be more than fine.

BUT imo so far Topuria has all the showings of a GOAT candidate

I think a person needs to defend their title a few times before they're called a GOAT candidate. Guy could be the next Renan Barao for all we know.

The Max fight seals my opinion of Topuria. I have an asterisk next to his Volk win as he'd just been slept by Islam. He took a round and a half to submit Bryce Mitchell, Emmett blasts him in 90 seconds. He took Emmett to a decision right after Yair was able to finish him. Outside of those two fights, I don't think much highly of his opponent's so far. He looks sharp, but I need to see more before I board any types of hype trains. This is either a derailment, or a passing of the torch, a star created or a legacy defined.

 

[Rubios]

You need to watch more boxing.

I've been training/following boxing for more than 15 years.

Ilia, coming from a grappling background, has developed a very technically sound boxing. Orthodox, compact, "defend yourself at all times", don't overcommit...
Plus, he has power and hand speed, his combos are veeery crisp and he uses levels pretty well.

Max and Volk, and I'd say Dustin, have better or much better boxing in an MMA context.
It's fairly obvious IMO.

 

[Lee Danger]

I would say Gaethje hits harder than Top and Max ate his shots and then slumped him, he also ate all of Dustin's shots who probably hits harder than little Top as well.

Max is going to eat the manlets shots then put a beating on him.

tbh Gaethje isn't exactly a one punch ko artist, i remember only Vick's (maybe there're more) but that guy was chinless.

 

[Lawrence]

Max Holloway defeats Ilia Topuria

Max Holloway has faced the best of the UFC featherweights and I believe he has the tools to beat Ilia. He has insane striking volume and a legendary chin and Ilia hasn’t really faced a striker like holloway who can barrage him with punches and kicks. As long as Max can avoid the power shots of Ilia he will win by decision based on strikes alone.

I wish Max had stayed at 155 after dispatching Justin.

But you don't walk away from title shots when you are Max. He earned it.

If he can recover from his weight cut without compromise, I think he wins. But this cut will be the hardest in his career and every cut after will be worse.

Against Justin at 155 his volume was a little lower and he loaded up a bit on his strikes... I think that was purposeful and it worked perfectly in that BMF fight. I wonder if he will try that down at 145 or go back to us typical output.

 

[chimpoehurricane]

Max Holloway defeats Ilia Topuria

Max Holloway has faced the best of the UFC featherweights and I believe he has the tools to beat Ilia. He has insane striking volume and a legendary chin and Ilia hasn’t really faced a striker like holloway who can barrage him with punches and kicks. As long as Max can avoid the power shots of Ilia he will win by decision based on strikes alone.

Live long enough to see hero’s fall.

I love max but if he tries it with Illia like he did Justin, it will be murder.

I’m 60/40 top wins but Max is a gamer but it’s a young man’s game.

 

[Ormendahl]

I bet on Ilia so hopefully not! I think Ilia is bigger and better. I think it'll be pretty easy for him.