'Fighter of the Year': Social media reacts to Ilia Topuria's UFC 308 knockout of Max Holloway
Ilia Topuria backed up his talk on Saturday when he defeated Max Holloway for his first title defense in the UFC 308 main event.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) kept his undefeated record in tact with a METHOD victory over former champion Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in the pay-per-view headliner at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Topuria beating Holloway at UFC 308.
Danny Segura
LET'S FUCKING GO. #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/VcLDNlZUET
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) October 26, 2024
Natan Levy
Holloway with the Akatsuki walk out 🤘
— Natan Levy ✡︎ (@Natan_Levy) October 26, 2024
Sean Sheehan
Max Holloway has never been knocked out in 33 fights.
Will Topuria change that tonight? #UFC308— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) October 26, 2024
Brian Ortega
Who else is thinking the first 10 secs might have them pointing to the middle of the ground @ufc
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) October 26, 2024
Kevin Iole
Holloway has hit the cage! This should be a great one!!!! #UFC308
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 26, 2024
Caposa
Let's ease up on the jumping today Max
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 26, 2024
UFC Canada
The legend 🌸 @BlessedMMA makes the walk! #UFC308
[ #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/288ddjBx5a— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 26, 2024
B.J. Penn
The best is @BlessedMMA! Let’s go Max!!! #JustScrap
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) October 26, 2024
Carlos Legaspi
Ilia Topuria al octágono para la primera defensa del título pluma del @UFCEspanol ante Max Holloway #UFC308
— Carlos Contreras Legaspi 🦁 (@CCLegaspi) October 26, 2024
UFC Canada
El Matador! 🏆🌹 @TopuriaIlia looks to make good in his first title defence! #UFC308
[ #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/meZNnyHjsE— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 26, 2024
Charles Johnson
UFC
THE FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE IS UP FOR GRABS 👀@TopuriaIlia vs @BlessedMMA
The #UFC308 main event is LIVE NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV!
[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/zrGSHVmNip— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024
Alan Jouban
Topuria really does have next level confidence. #UFC308
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) October 26, 2024
Adam Martin
Ilia Topuria promised the fans he would point down at the floor of the Octagon and stand and trade with Max Holloway in the first 10 seconds of this fight. Let's see if he follows through with it. #UFC308
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) October 26, 2024
UFC
Terrance McKinney
Blessed express lfg 😤😤😤
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) October 26, 2024
Nolan King
Bruce losing his voice and I don't blame him #UFC308
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) October 26, 2024
Kevin Iole
Big takedown by Ilia. Has Max against the fence #UFC308
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 26, 2024
Ben Fowlkes
Can’t say I expected a Topuria takedown in the first 90 seconds.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) October 26, 2024
Caposa
That was a nice counter left hook from Max
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 26, 2024
Luca Fury
Derek Brunson
How are these fights looking?
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) October 26, 2024
Tai Tuivasa
@BlessedMMA LESSSGEDDDIT 🥷🤩 #UFC308
— Tai BAM BAM Tuivasa (@bambamtuivasa) October 26, 2024
Dominick Cruz
I think Max footwork will be on showcase and very key🔑 in this fight-to match the technical power boxing pressure from Topuria‼️#UFC308
— Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) October 26, 2024
Josh Emmett
It’s time!!! Who you got? #UFC308
— JOSH EMMETT (@JoshEmmettUFC) October 26, 2024
Ben Askren
Man some OG MMA fans are gonna be on Suicide watch if Max gets finished right after Robert
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 26, 2024
Henry Cejudo
Max needs to keep utilizing a wide variety of kicks to keep Ilia guessing #UFC308
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) October 26, 2024
Charles Jourdain
Thiago Moises
1x0 Ilia #ufc308
— Thiago Moisés (@ThiagoMoisesMMA) October 26, 2024
Gilbert Burns
That first round was 🔥🔥😮💨😮💨 #UFC308
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) October 26, 2024
Johnny Eblen
Close first 10-9 Max
— Johnny Eblen (@JohnnyEblen) October 26, 2024
Renato Moicano
That’s a crazy good match up… topuria very powerful max with the very good reach!!! Competitive first round !!! But topuria got it on the end #ufc308
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) October 26, 2024
Nazim Sadykhov
Max and Ilia both make each other look vulnerable. Very high level stuff #UFC308
— Nazim Sadykhov (@naz_mma) October 26, 2024
Caposa
That jab is not missing for Max
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 26, 2024
Garrett Armfield
So high level #ufc308
— Garrett Armfield (@Armfield135) October 26, 2024
Jack Slack
This fight rocks
— Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) October 26, 2024
Max Griffin
Nail biter of a fight 😬 #UFC308
— Max Griffin (@MaxPainGriffin) October 26, 2024
Ben Askren
Topouria starting to connect really hard in Round 2!
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 26, 2024
Henry Cejudo
What a fight so far! Topuria is finding his range. Max needs to keep throwing kicks!!! #UFC308
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) October 26, 2024
Mike Bohn
Max Holloway has joined Rafael dos Anjos as the second person in UFC history to log more than 8 hours of octagon fight time. #UFC308
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) October 26, 2024
Terrance McKinney
Illa exploding off the back leg a lot might slow him down in the later rds let’s go Max
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) October 26, 2024
Carlos Legaspi
19-19 #UFC308
— Carlos Contreras Legaspi 🦁 (@CCLegaspi) October 26, 2024
Matthew Wells
This fight is so damn good through 2. #UFC308
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) October 26, 2024
Scott Fontana
R2 10-9 Holloway to tie it 19-19, but both rounds were highly competitive #UFC308
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) October 26, 2024
Thiago Moises
Can’t blink in this one. 2-0 Topuria #UFC308
— Thiago Moisés (@ThiagoMoisesMMA) October 26, 2024
Marc Raimondi
The skill level here is just off the charts. #UFC308
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) October 26, 2024
Justin Gaethje
Great fight. I think it’s 2-0 Max but could easily be 1-1. #UFC308
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) October 26, 2024
Jay Perrin
19-19 through two #UFC308
— Jay Perrin (@Joker_Gang35) October 26, 2024
MMA on Sirius XM
Anik claims already 200 strikes thrown by Holloway and round 2 wasn’t even over when he announced it#UFC308 pic.twitter.com/vZ3J81ZCs9
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) October 26, 2024
Johnny Eblen
19-19 going into the 2nd
— Johnny Eblen (@JohnnyEblen) October 26, 2024
Saidyokub Kakhramonov
Ilia up every round #ufc
— Saidyokub Kakhramonov (@SaidYokubMMA) October 26, 2024
Henry Cejudo
Can Topuria keep this pace for five rounds? #UFC308 🤔👀
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) October 26, 2024
Mike Bohn
Ilia Topuria KOs Max Holloway in Round 3! And Still. No doubt about that knockdown. As he predicted. Jesus. #UFC308
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) October 26, 2024
Caposa
Holy fuckkkkkkkkkk. The power of Topuria. He actually cracked Max's chin
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 26, 2024
Fabio Cherant
I’m done with mma
— BUFF (@Buffalomma8) October 26, 2024
Matthew Wells
https://x.com/MrMWells/status/1850277901243142248
Terrance McKinney
Damn bro is him illa holy shit
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) October 26, 2024
Nolan King
Ilia Topuria knocks out Max Holloway in Round 3. Monster, monster, monster this man is. #UFC308
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) October 26, 2024
Alan Jouban
He’s the best boxer in the UFC! #UFC308
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) October 26, 2024
Simon Samano
Holy shit, Topuria knocked out Holloway, WOW. 😮 #UFC308
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) October 26, 2024
Marcel Dorff
Ilia Topuria different level. Y'all can't keep doubting this man. All respect to Max. #UFC308
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) October 26, 2024
Tracy Cortez
OMG 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 #UFC308
— Tracy Cortez’s ERA (@TracyCortezmma) October 26, 2024
Diana Belbita
😞
#UFC308— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) October 26, 2024
Megan Anderson
Oh my goodness!! Ilia Topuria's power is the real deal.... wowwwww
No one has EVER been able to finish Max like this 😳 #UFC308— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) October 26, 2024
Gilbert Burns
Wow 🤯
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) October 26, 2024
Aaron Bronsteter
His nickname is The Matador, but Topuria is most successful when he's the bull.
He backs his opponents up and when he gets them cornered, he mauls them.— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 26, 2024
Danny Segura
Ilia Topuria STOPS Max Holloway. Unreal. #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/V4FtuDubeS
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) October 26, 2024
Jamahal Hill
Woah El Matador and still!!! His boxing is nasty!!!
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) October 26, 2024
Aljamain Sterling
Wow!! ILIA stops Max Holloway! That was crazy!! #UFC308
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 26, 2024
Justin Gaethje
Topuria got some hands of stone. Hell of a finish. #ufc308
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) October 26, 2024
Chris Curtis
Sadly... I called that one to everyone who asked. #UFC308
— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) October 26, 2024
Alan Jouban
All love for @BlessedMMA. Always classy and always a legend. #UFC308
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) October 26, 2024
Brandon Royval
We love you still Max 🌺
— Brandon (@brandonroyval) October 26, 2024
Josh Emmett
Hell of a Fight, Congrats Champ!
— JOSH EMMETT (@JoshEmmettUFC) October 26, 2024
MMA Junkie
#UFC308 results: Ilia Topuria (@TopuriaIlia) def. Max Holloway via KO (punches) – Round 3, 1:34 – to defend featherweight title
Full coverage: https://t.co/tUBscyFz6T pic.twitter.com/biLaZOpOvB— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 26, 2024
Caposa
If his next fight isn't in Spain what are they even doing
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 26, 2024
UFC
He did EXACTLY what he said he'd do 🤯@TopuriaIlia just knocked out Max Holloway at #UFC308!
[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/hbQjS5qplS— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024
Matthew Wells
Ilia Topuria may have stolen Fighter of the Year from Alex Pereira.
To knock out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in the same calendar year, much less at all, is insane.— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) October 26, 2024
Kamaru Usman
Damn that left hook was crazy!!!🔥🔥🔥
Congratulations @Topuriailia #UFC308— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) October 26, 2024
Charles Rosa
— Charles Rosa (@CharlesRosaMMA) October 26, 2024
Mike Davis
Im amazed. Ilia is good
👏— Mike “Beast Boy” Davis (@MikeDavisMMA) October 26, 2024
Nolan King
Alexander Volkanovski is in the cage during Ilia Topuria's post-fight interview. Topuria indicates the rematch could be next. #UFC308
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) October 26, 2024
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: 'Fighter of the Year': Social media reacts to Ilia Topuria's UFC 308 knockout of Max Holloway
