Holloway says Topuria's win streak isn't as special as it seems

The celebrated UFC fighter, the antheral who for years was considered 1 of the astir unsafe strikers successful the featherweight division, has an absorbing sentiment astir the emergence of the combatant who presently dominates the lightweight division. Max Holloway, present an experienced 32-year-old, believes that excessively overmuch attraction is fixed to Ilija Topuria's victories, without considering the wider context.

"Topuria's streak is not that special, you person to look astatine the wider context. He does what helium needs to and that's it," said Holloway, and his condemnation intelligibly reflects the uncertainty astir the grade of the champion's existent dominance.

Preparations for Poirier and a imaginable rivalry

Following his nonaccomplishment to the 27-year-old Topuria astatine UFC 308, Holloway returns to the Octagon connected July 19 to support his BMF loop against Dustin Poirier. Although 1 would person expected that decision by the Spaniard would origin choler oregon envy, the concern was different.

“I was the happiest antheral successful the satellite erstwhile helium took the title. It opened the doorway for maine to get a rematch,” Holloway said with a smile.

Topuria has beaten immoderate large names truthful acold – Volkanovski, Holloway and Oliveira. However, the 32-year-old from Waianae believes those wins weren’t successful the cleanable circumstances for his opponents.

“Yes, helium bushed those names and nary 1 tin contradict that. But erstwhile you look astatine the bigger picture… Volk was successful a peculiar situation, coming disconnected a loss, a abbreviated camp. People spot the sanction and accidental ‘he bushed Volk,’ but they don’t look astatine the authorities Volk was successful astatine the time,” helium told ShakMMA.

“Charles was connected a winning streak. At the extremity of the day, it’s conscionable moments, it’s conscionable names. He does what helium has to do, helium wins, but let’s not overdramatize.”

Meanwhile, rumors of a combat betwixt Topuria and Pimblett person died down, with Dana White stressing that Arman Tsarukyan is not yet acceptable for the title. That leaves country for Holloway, if helium beats Poirier, to look the caller champion again.

If that happens, the rematch could beryllium 1 of the astir breathtaking moments of the caller UFC season, and the combatant from Hawaii would person a accidental to close what is inactive burning him.s