American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez is giving due credit to Ilia Topuria.
Topuria put his featherweight title on the line against Max Holloway in the main event at UFC 308 this past Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. “El Matador” became the first to knock out Holloway, who had previously proclaimed himself the “best boxer in the UFC.”
After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski to win the title at UFC 298 this past February and defending his strap against Holloway, Topuria has now put himself in “Fighter of the Year” conversations.