‘Best boxer I’ve ever seen in MMA gloves’: Pros react to Ilia Topuria’s unbelievable knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308
Ilia Topuria is the best featherweight in the world and maybe the best boxer that MMA has ever seen.
That was the sentiment of at least one fighter following Topuria’s incredible performance in Saturday’s UFC 308 main event, which ended with the 145-pound champion cracking Max Holloway with a left hand and following with punches on the ground to secure a knockout. It is the first time ever that a fighter has finished Holloway with strikes in the Hawaiian’s 34-fight career.
Considering the legends that Holloway has shared the octagon with, it’s almost inconceivable that Topuria would be the first to score a KO victory over him, but that is the case and now Topuria can etch his name alongside those legends. He improved to 16-0 with his first UFC title defense.
“Best boxer I’ve ever seen in MMA gloves,” UFC bantamweight Cody Stamann wrote, and he wasn’t the only fighter in awe of Topuria’s exploits.
See more of the best pros’ reactions from social media below.
Best boxer I’ve ever seen in mma gloves. @Topuriailia will be a dominate champion. Maybe the best ever at 145 #ufc308
— Cody Stamann (@CodyStamann) October 26, 2024
Wow!! ILIA stops Max Holloway! That was crazy!! #UFC308
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 26, 2024
Damn that left hook was crazy!!!
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) October 26, 2024
Congratulations @Topuriailia #UFC308
Topuria got some hands of stone. Hell of a finish. #ufc308
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) October 26, 2024
Congrats Champ! #UFC308
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) October 26, 2024
Congrats champ it was amazing
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) October 26, 2024
Keep your head up Max you are a legend #UFC308
Ilia the real deal! WOW!
— Johnny Eblen (@JohnnyEblen) October 26, 2024
Levels
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) October 26, 2024
WTF CRAZY KNOCKOUT #ufc308
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) October 26, 2024
Oh my goodness!! Ilia Topuria's power is the real deal.... wowwwww
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) October 26, 2024
No one has EVER been able to finish Max like this #UFC308
Topuria has dynamite in his hands! #UFC308
— Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) October 26, 2024
OMG #UFC308
— Tracy Cortez’s ERA (@TracyCortezmma) October 26, 2024
Give Ilia the BMF belt!!!! #UFC308
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) October 26, 2024
Damn Topuria is a savage!!
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 26, 2024
Damn bro is him illa holy shit
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) October 26, 2024
Im amazed. Ilia is good
— Mike “Beast Boy” Davis (@MikeDavisMMA) October 26, 2024
We love you still Max
— Brandon (@brandonroyval) October 26, 2024
Absolute monster
— Javid Basharat (@JavidBasharat) October 26, 2024