In the end, Ilia Topuria did exactly what he said he would do.

The featherweight champion returns to action in the main event of the UFC 308 card in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, defending his belt against Max Holloway, one of the best fighters in the division’s history. Topuria told us ahead of time that he would be the first to knock out Holloway; This is something that the likes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje have failed to achieve, and as questionable as it may seem, he did it.

He did so in style, knocking out his opponent with a sizzling left hook.

“I don’t know what to say,” Topuria said of his surprising knockout victory midway through the third round. “I can’t believe I beat a legend like Max Holloway. I’ve followed him his entire career.

“I represent the new generation and I hope I can be a small part of what it represents to me.”

The fight was close in the first two rounds, with Topuria ultimately winning his fight with Holloway in emphatic fashion. Many viewers seemed to throw the first round for Holloway, who was finding great success with his jabs and kicks to the body.

However, in the second round the situation began to turn in Topuria’s favor, and in the third round he acted even more aggressively and achieved decisive results.

“Not at all,” Holloway told commentator Daniel Cormier when asked if anything about Topuria’s performance surprised him. “He just took a shot and I think it hurt a lot more than I thought it would.

“I felt great until he did it. That’s sports. Hats off to him. No excuses. I had a great camp… He was the best guy tonight.”

Being the first to knock out a legend like Max Holloway is a tremendous accomplishment for Topuria, who is only 27 years old, making him the youngest active champion in the UFC.

Surprisingly, this isn’t the first success on his resume either. Earlier this year, Topuria scored a similarly stunning knockout victory over another living MMA legend, Alexander Volkanovski; in the first round at the time.

Topuria closing out 2024 with knockout wins over Volkanovski and Holloway in the rearview mirror is more impressive than can be said.

Beating the two legends will also make him a huge betting favorite in his next fight (no matter who he ends up fighting).

The top contender right now appears to be #3 seed Diego Lopes, who is fresh off a lopsided decision win over former two-time title challenger Brian Ortega. He was in Abu Dhabi as a backup in case Holloway or Topuria were unable to reach the Octagon; This means he still has a shot at the title now that the fight is over.

However, Volkanovski also appears to be in the best position for a rematch with Topuria. The former champion, who is still ranked No. 1 in his weight class, defended his belt five times before losing it to the current champion and has been seeking a chance at redemption on that basis ever since. Heading into UFC 308, it seemed unlikely he would get the opportunity before Lopes, but he was invited into the Octagon during Topuria’s post-fight interview, which suggests the UFC likes the idea.

One way or another, there is no doubt that Topuria’s future is bright.

The Georgian, who now lives in Spain, has become a star since knocking out Volkanovski earlier this year. Shortly after winning the belt with this performance, he received a hero’s welcome in front of 85,000 Real Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Shortly thereafter, he was awarded the Order of Honor by the President of Georgia in Tbilisi’s Orbeliani Palace. He is loved in both of his countries and his star will undoubtedly burn brighter than ever after his stunning knockout victory over Holloway; So much so that it could even headline the UFC’s scheduled debut in Spain next year.

No matter who, where or when he fought, he single-handedly ushered in a new era in the featherweight division.