Ilia Topuria reveals next opponent after UFC 300: ‘Its clear for me, my next fight is against Max Holloway’

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - “El Matador” has his sight set on “Blessed.”

Max Holloway won the “BMF” title in epic fashion last night at UFC 300 (Sat., April 13, 2024) when he slept Justin Gaethje with one second left in the fight from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (watch highlights).

Holloway has several options on the table for who he can fight next. He can stay at Lightweight and fight for a title, or he can fight Lightweight legends. The most logical move would be to return to Featherweight and fight the champion, Ilia Topuria.

Topuria agreed in an interview with ESPN Deportes after Holloway’s brutal knockout.

“It’s clear for me, my next fight is against Max Holloway, congratulations and enjoy tonight, but after fighting me, he will have to go back in the line,” Topuria said in Spanish but was translated by Carlos Legaspi.

Holloway was asked about Topuria’s message during the UFC 300 post-fight press conference and laughed it off.

“That’s cool,” Holloway said. “What do you want me to say? What if he goes to the back of the line? At the end of the day, we’ll find out. Like I said, we have questions. We’re in the fighting game. Ilia can talk, but I have a lot of questions. I like to listen, and if that ever gets booked, you’ll have a lot of answers. I’m excited for it.”

“Blessed” was also asked about Topuria’s shook reaction to his knockout.

“I saw it, but I don’t know the dude. You don’t know if he’s socially awkward or something, maybe that’s what he is,” Holloway said. “Fair play to him. I don’t know how animated he is. I ain’t going to take to it. He’s the world champion; he’s a killer.”

Topuria is coming off a brutal knockout himself as he slept Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 and has been calling for a fight with Holloway in Spain for over a year.

For complete UFC 300 results, coverage and highlights click HERE.