Ilia Topuria could say he feels invincible, however the lie detector check decided that was a lie.
Throughout a latest interview with his brother, the reigning UFC featherweight champion was hooked as much as a polygraph and was requested if he really believed he might defeat any opponent the promotion places in entrance of him. Unsurprisingly, ‘El Matador’ answered within the affirmative, however the polygraph indicated in any other case, suggesting that Topuria was mendacity.
Regardless of the consequence, Topuria remained adamant about his invincibility.
“I’ve at all times felt invincible,” Topuria mentioned. “This [Polygraph] can say no matter it desires to say.”
Ilia Topuria places his gold up for grabs at UFC 308
In just a few quick weeks, Ilia Topuria may have the chance to place his confidence on full show when he defends the 145-pound title for the primary time since taking the belt from Alexander Volkanovski in February. ‘El Matador’ will face current BMF titleholder Max Holloway when the promotion heads again to Abu Dhabi for a loaded UFC 308 card at Etihad Area.
‘Blessed’ earned his shot through a buzzer-beating knockout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to seize the promotion’s bragging rights belt. Holloways’ BMF title gained’t be up for grabs within the UAE, one thing Topuria was admittedly pissed off by.
“No, the BMF title isn’t going to be on the road,” Topuria advised MMA Junkie in August. “To be sincere, I don’t care. They took that call and on the finish of the day it’s like, once I’m going to beat him he can’t say he’s a BMF or nonetheless they wish to name him. I’m simply concentrating on my title protection and that’s it. I don’t care about the rest.”
Holloway is a former featherweight champion, having captured the interim title with a win over Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis earlier than TKO’ing Jose Aldo at UFC 212 to change into the division’s undisputed king. Blessed’ efficiently defended the title thrice, defeating Aldo in a rematch, Brian Ortega, and Frankie Edgar.
Holloway surrendered the title to Volkavnovski at UFC 245 and did not reclaim the belt in back-to-back rematches with ‘The Nice,’ forcing him to maneuver on from the featherweight title image. Now, with Volkanovski now not sitting on the throne and ‘Blessed’ banking three straight wins, Holloway is able to kickstart a brand new title reign in 2024.
