Max
Holloway wasn’t shocked by the outcome of Ilia
Topuria vs. Justin
Gaethje.

Topuria was a massive favorite when he put his
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title on the line
against interim champion Gaethje at
UFC Freedom 250. After battling through a body shot in the
second round, the latter rallied in the third and fourth rounds to
pile on the damage, prompting a corner stoppage before the
fifth.

Max Holloway breaks down Justin Gaethje’s boxing performance
against Ilia Topuria

Having faced both fighters, Holloway wasn’t surprised by the result
of the last lightweight fight. He was, in fact, caught off guard by
how Gaethje was largely being counted out. However, what left the
former featherweight and BMF champion stunned was the way Gaethje
handed “El Matador” his first professional loss.

While “Blessed” believed Gaethje could win, he thought “The
Highlight” would use his signature leg kicks. Seeing his compatriot
outbox Topuria, who is considered one of the most technically sound
and powerful boxers in the UFC, piqued the Hawaiian’s
attention.

“I wasn’t shocked. I knew he could win. I was shocked at how much
people didn’t give Gaethje a shot, actually. But I thought Gaethje
would win. The thing that shocked me wasn’t the win; it was the way
he won,” Holloway said in a recent interview. “I thought he was
gonna have kicks, leg kicks. He outboxed a good boxer in there and
a power puncher. He did what he did with boxing. That’s what blew
my mind. I knew he could win; I thought he could win, especially
with the grit and stuff. And he showed, Gaethje, man, you can’t
count that man out. He’s an animal.”

Topuria (17-1) had defended his featherweight title just once,
handing Holloway (27-9) his lone knockout loss, before moving up to
lightweight. The latter returned to the win column with a decision
win against Dustin
Poirier, but then lost his BMF belt to Charles
Oliveira. He’ll take on Conor
McGregor at
UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11, at T-Mobile Arena in Las
Vegas.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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