At Etihad Arena, the crowd erupted with chants of “Ilia, Ilia,” and Ilia Topuria certainly delivered for his fans. No one expected to see Max Holloway suffer such a brutal knockout, but Topuria sealed the victory in his signature style, finishing Holloway in the third round at 1:34. This marked the first time fans witnessed ‘Blessed’ being knocked out. The fight was highly anticipated, and both fighters took home substantial purses.
As reported by SportySalaries, Ilia Topuria’s purse for UFC 308 was $750,000, but his overall earnings climbed to $2.4 million, bolstered by a significant pay-per-view revenue share projected to be $1.5 million. In contrast, Max Holloway is expected to earn over $1.53 million, which includes a guaranteed $500,000 and up to $850,000 from pay-per-view sales. Both fighters showcased exceptional skill, and the fans thoroughly enjoyed the event.
Topuria made a powerful statement in his first title defense. Holloway heavily relied on kicks to keep the champion out of striking range, while Topuria responded with explosive combinations. Although ‘El Matador’ secured an early takedown, Holloway swiftly got back up. As Holloway appeared to be gaining momentum, Topuria delivered a thunderous right hand that changed the fight.
UFC Stars React to Ilia Topuria’s Knockout of Max Holloway
Ilia Topuria certainly ended the night on a high note. Fans at the Etihad Arena witnessed some incredible finishes, but the main event featuring Topuria vs. Holloway was truly spectacular, as ‘El Matador’ defeated the former featherweight champion by knockout in the third round.
Additionally, fans got to see the reactions of various UFC stars in attendance, including Alexander Volkanovski and Merab Dvalishvili, who were left in awe when Topuria knocked out ‘Blessed.’ Dvalishvili was seen celebrating and shouting, while Volkanovski appeared completely shocked.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
The knockout left many spectators speechless. Fans are now curious about what’s next for Topuria, but he might take some time to rest and recover before his next fight.
Also Read: VIDEO: Ilia Topuria Delivers On His Promise, Becomes First Man To Knock Out Max Holloway At UFC 308
