Aljamain Sterling has highlighted conditioning as a significant question mark for UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria ahead of his first title defense against Max Holloway at UFC 308 on October 27 in Abu Dhabi.

Topuria and Holloway’s Strengths

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) became the champion after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski in the second round at UFC 298. Sterling noted that Volkanovski had early success before getting caught.

“Topuria is a savage, the guy can crack, but he struggled with Volkanovski in the first round,” Sterling said on “Verse Us with Eric Nicksick.” “And if Volk stuck to his Ps and Qs, just doing what he was doing that helped him win the first round – long jab, inside leg kick, use your footwork, have Topuria swinging at you and missing, or just barely grazing you, but getting out of the way and landing the better shots. He was starting to wear it on his face. His eye, his nose, busted him up.”

Sterling continued, describing how Holloway could be a dangerous opponent with his excellent footwork and durability.

“Then he tries to exchange with Topuria on the cage and gets knocked out. Enter Max Holloway: great footwork, high guard, long punches. He has a shorter reach than Volkanovski, but his footwork is what helps him so much in his fights, and he’s got great durability.”

Max Holloway’s Fighting Style

Max Holloway is renowned for his exceptional volume and precision in striking. He holds the record for the most significant strikes landed in UFC history, which showcases his ability to overwhelm opponents with constant pressure. His style revolves around controlling distance; he moves just outside his opponent’s range and quickly counters. Holloway’s head movement and footwork make him hard to hit, and he excels at landing punches from all ranges. He often adapts during the fight, starting with testing his opponent’s reactions and then progressing with creative strikes and spinning techniques.

Despite primarily being a striker, Holloway has developed a grappling style that complements his striking, allowing him to finish on the ground when the opportunity arises. He boasts excellent takedown defense, which often keeps the fight standing, where he is most effective. Holloway also has impressive cardio, especially in championship rounds, making him dangerous as the fight goes on.

Conditioning as the Key Factor

Sterling sees Holloway’s endurance as a potential key to victory and questions whether Topuria can handle the pressure of a five-round fight against such an experienced opponent.

“If Max could stay on his bike and touch him from the outside, it would be very interesting to see what happens in the later rounds,” Sterling said. “We haven’t seen Topuria exhausted or tired yet. In Round 5 with Josh Emmett, he was in the driver’s seat the whole time, but what happens if you could set a little fatigue in him?”

Sterling also pointed out that failed takedown attempts or instances where Holloway quickly gets back up could wear Topuria down:

“Him having some failed takedown attempts, or even if he gets the takedowns and Max can get back up, it makes the fight very interesting where he starts to use up a lot more energy than expected.”

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Ilia Topuria’s Fighting Style

Ilia Topuria is a well-rounded fighter known for explosive striking and high precision. His style is heavily influenced by boxing, with powerful and precise punches that can quickly end fights. Topuria mixes his striking with grappling, making it challenging for opponents to predict his attacks. He has a strong background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling and is proficient at seeking submissions on the ground, making him a threat both standing and on the mat.

Topuria’s aggressive grappling often sees him looking for submissions rather than merely controlling his opponents. His strengths include the power of his strikes, high-level grappling, and an aggressive fighting style that keeps opponents on the defensive. However, compared to Holloway, he has less experience in five-round fights and can be vulnerable to high-volume strikers.

Sterling emphasized how Holloway’s style could be the perfect test for Topuria:

“He’s always in your face with those spinning back kicks. If Max gets back to the old-school Max, it’s a very intriguing fight.”

UFC 308 Fight Card

• Featherweight: Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway
• Middleweight: Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
• Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane vs. Aleksandr Volkov
• Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
• Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
• Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
• Heavyweight: Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
• Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
• Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

Sterling anticipates an exciting title fight where Holloway’s endurance and smart footwork could be the key to breaking down the undefeated Topuria.

Source: MMAnytt.se