UFC 308: Max Holloway hits back at critics as Ilia Topuria ditches fight week red wine ritual

Max Holloway has fired back at the critics who went after him following his third brutal UFC championship defeat to Alex Volkanovski as the Hawaiian sets himself for another crack at the belt this weekend.

The critics said Max Holloway should retire after his comprehensive third defeat to Alex Volkanovski in 2022.

Well beaten in one of the most sublime performances of Volk’s championship reign, Holloway walked out of the cage that night a badly beaten and bloody mess.

He faced an uncertain future, but says he remembers each and every one of the people telling him to hang up the gloves.

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“That left a bad taste in my mouth,” Holloway told this masthead in Abu Dhabi this week as he prepares for another featherweight title shot against champion Ilia Topuria at UFC 308.

“A lot of people told me I should retire. A lot of people told me I should go up a weight class.

Alex Volkanovski has defeated Max Holloway in three championship bouts. Picture: Getty Images

“It was just crazy to me. I’m still young and I still had so much to prove.

“This Saturday we’ll see who gets the last laugh.”

Driven by those doubters who told him to pack it in, Holloway has since put on some of the best performances of his career against Jung Chan-sung and Justin Gaethje in a stunning resurgence.

“You’ve gotta change up your training because mixed martial arts is forever growing,” he said. “So things just started falling into place.

Ilia Topuria will defend his belt for the first time on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

“Maybe it’s that man-strength because I’m in my 30s now, but I just feel great.”

Still only 32, Holloway has been in the UFC for 12 years, and is quick to point out that by Topuria’s age – 27 – he had already won the featherweight title and defended it multiple times.

“He’s in the right place at the right time, and he took full advantage of it,” he said of Topuria’s rise to world champion. “Full respect to him, he did what he had to do, and he won fights.

“Against Volk, correct me if I’m wrong, but Volk was doing great until unfortunately he wasn’t at the end.

“But it is what it is, and fair play to him, but on Saturday night he gets to see me, and then we’ll see.”

Meanwhile, the supremely confident Topuria has plans on winnings world titles at lightweight and welterweight, but has ditched one of his unique fight week traditions.

The Spanish superstar went viral earlier this year after revealing he routinely drinks half a litre of red win the night before weighing in.

In a ritual dating back to the earliest days of his professional career, he told this masthead that it helps him shed the final few grams before stepping on the scales.

But this week, as he prepares for his first featherweight title defence, it’ll be all sweat suits and steam rooms.

“I don’t think I need to do it this time,” he told this masthead. “The weight is good at the moment, so I don’t think I need the help.

“But, we’ll see – if the weight doesn’t go so well, maybe I will need to take the wine.”

Originally published as UFC 308: Max Holloway hits back at critics as Ilia Topuria ditches fight week red wine ritual