At UFC 308, the featherweight crown is on the line as reigning champion Ilia Topuria takes on Max Holloway! Coming into this match-up there’s already been a lot of shots being thrown at each other by both men. During the UFC 308 Embedded, ‘El Matador’ proclaimed, “I have everything to be the first one to knock (Holloway) out and it’s going to happen…”. However, that’s easier said than done against a man whose chin has attained legendary status inside the Octagon.
Fresh off a historic knockout over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, the Hawaiian is riding on a 3-fight win streak coming into this match-up. Now, with the belt he once held in his sights, let’s take a look as we compare their stats, fighting styles, and more as the MMA Sphere is eagerly waiting for this matchup between two elite mixed martial artists!
UFC 308: Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway stats
Ilia Topuria is currently undefeated in his professional MMA career and has been an unstoppable juggernaut ever since he arrived in the UFC in 2020. Holding wins over names like Josh Emmet, Bryce Mitchell and Ryan Hall, ‘El Matador’ then faced the biggest challenge of his career so far when he took Alexander Volkanovski for the 145 lbs. title at UFC 298. With a spectacular second-round knockout of ‘The Great’, Topuria has cemented his position as one of the most dangerous champions in the promotion.
Standing across from him inside the Octagon at the Etihad Arena will be Max Holloway. A name that needs no introduction for MMA fans, ‘Blessed’ is the current ‘BMF’ champion and a former featherweight king. Making his UFC debut at just 20 years old in 2012, Holloway has gone on to cement himself as one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. From 2014 to 2018, the Hawaiian was undefeated as a featherweight, only losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 236 when he moved up to 155 lbs to challenge for the interim title.
With all that being said, here’s a look at Topuria and Holloway’s stats and other figures.
Ilia Topuria
Record: 15- 0 (professional record) 7-0 (UFC record)
Height: 5’7
Age: 27
Reach: 69’
Team: Climent Club, Alicante, Spain
Fighting Style: Kickboxing, Wrestling, Grappling
Max Holloway
Record: 26-7 (professional record) 22-7 (UFC record)
Height: 5’11
Age: 32
Reach: 69’
Team: Gracie Technics, Legacy Muay Thai, Hawaii
Fighting Style: Stance-switching kick-boxer, anti-wrestler
When comparing the above stats, Holloway is a fighter who has seen it all. With 22 UFC wins under his belt, the former featherweight kingpin is known for his fluid striking, sharp footwork, and seemingly limitless gas tank. Holloway doesn’t just fight; he builds his momentum round by round, wearing down opponents with volume and creativity.
On the other side of the cage, Ilia Topuria boasts a 57% KO/TKO rate according to Tapology, making him a dangerous fighter for anyone to get in an exchange with. While Holloway is the taller man coming into this fight, ‘El Matador’s relentless forward pressure cuts off the cage, forcing opponents into uncomfortable exchanges.
Topuria vs Holloway breakdown and prediction
This fight is more than just a battle for the featherweight title—it’s a war between two contrasting styles. Ilia Topuria’s success will depend on his ability to break Holloway’s rhythm and keep the fight in close quarters. His liver shots and calf kicks could play a huge role in slowing down Holloway’s movement, making him more vulnerable to Topuria’s power punches.
On the other hand, Holloway thrives in chaos. If he can survive the early onslaught and begin to dictate the pace, Topuria could find himself in deep waters. Holloway’s ability to wear down his opponents with volume and keep them guessing with his stance switches is where he excels. The wild card in this fight can be the Georgian’s takedowns and grappling. But as the UFC stats show, ‘Blessed’ has an 84% takedown defense, making that avenue a risky gamble for his opponent.
According to DraftKings, the odds (subject to change) for UFC 308 show Topuria coming in as a -230 favorite with Holloway as the +190 underdog. But that was also the case at UFC 300 when Holloway took Gaethje. With that being said, the prediction for this fight leans towards Holloway weathering the storm early and pulling out a win in the later rounds as his cardio and volume take over the cage.
Both men bring contrasting styles, with Topuria’s aggressive power meeting Holloway’s strategic volume and unbreakable chin. Will Ilia Topuria’s relentless pressure finally be the key to breaking Max Holloway’s legendary durability? Or will the Hawaiian’s experience and resilience allow him to outlast the Georgian phenom and reclaim the featherweight crown? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
