Ilia Topuria believes his fight with Max Holloway at UFC 308 could produce the most exciting 10 seconds in MMA history – if his rival stands toe-to-toe with him in the middle of the ring.
Topuria is 15-0 in his MMA career, having won the title in his previous fight against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298.
“If he stays in the middle for the first 10 seconds of the fight, it is going to be the most exciting 10 seconds in UFC or MMA history,” he told TNT Sports.
“It is going to be fireworks. It is all going to be up to him, if he wants to stay with me or not.”
Topuria may have one of the biggest fights of his career on the horizon, but that has not stopped him setting his sights on becoming a three-weight world champion.
On his plans for the future, he said: “Probably a three-weight world champion, that is the goal.
“You are not going to see me in the welterweight division like this, all skinny. You are going to see me [looking] different.
“That is the goal, move up to the lightweight division, get that belt and then move up to the welterweight division.”
UFC 308 will also see Robert Whittaker face Khamzat Chimaev and Lerone Murphy take on Dan Ige.
The event will mark the 20th time UFC has held an event in Abu Dhabi, but the promotion is yet to travel to Topuria’s home country of Spain.
The 27-year-old has also made it clear that he would like to see a UFC event held at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in 2025.
The football stadium is the home of La Liga giants and 15-time UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid.
“Exactly, this is the main goal for me for 2025. “To bring the UFC to Spain,” he added.
“In the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, there is no other place that that is going to happen.”
