The new UFC BMF champion, Max Holloway, is the deadliest featherweight in the world at the moment. He succeeded in defeating Justin Gaethje and he did it, with a deadly right hook during the 5th round. The intense KO made Holloway the talk of the UFC industry and this might be one of the deadliest KOs in 2024. However, Ilia Topuria, who is the UFC featherweight champion, did not agree with everybody else. Holloway also indicated a rift as he called out the UFC featherweight champion in his post-fight interview.

Most people are under the presumption that the Hawaiian might be fighting ‘El Matador’ next. However, a UFC insider underplays the rivalry between the two UFC stars. 

Former MMA star does not think the Topuria vs Holloway rivalry is true

After Holloway succeeded in UFC 300, the fans were excited about a fight between him and the new UFC Featherweight Champion Topuria. Interestingly, through social media and interviews, both fighters have been throwing verbal punches and KOs at each other. Topuria even stated in an interview with Ariel Helwani that Holloway has not done enough to earn an opportunity at his title. These things indicate that there is a rivalry going on between the fighters, at least the fans think so.

However, in his podcast ‘Beyond the Fight’, Chael Sonnen gave a different perspective recently. He said, “Max never had heat with Topuria, if anybody else if Bryce Mitchell had that belt right now just for example, if Josh had that belt just for example…” The former UFC fighter gave other names such as Ortega, as an example and said if any other fighter had that belt and not Topuria, then Max would focus on them.

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Uncle Chael elaborated, “That is who Max would have his focus on. It’s the belt, not the athlete. So wouldn’t you know when Max gets that belt and becomes the hottest thing in our sport? The only guy that doesn’t know is him.” However, it cannot be denied that both fighters have been going back and forth on social media and verbally bashing each other, which does show a different side to the story.

Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria’s ongoing rift

Holloway had clearly stated that he wanted to fight against the UFC featherweight champion, but ‘El Matador’ did not share the same enthusiasm. During an interview with MMA Hour, he stated the reason why Holloway did not achieve enough to have a shot at his title. He said, “Without the BMF belt, I don’t want to fight Max at all. If not, I’m gonna fight with Volk who deserves more than him, the rematch. He’s been saying ‘Right now I have a lot of options’. He doesn’t have any options.”

Topuria also went to the extent of posting a picture on his Instagram story of Max Holloway beaten up after his fight with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 276. He also decided to caption it with a simple “Good Morning”, which infuriated the fans.

Is Max Holloway just vying for the belt or the two fighters do have a rivalry going on? Do you think the fight is going to happen? If so, then who is going to win? Drop your views in the comments.