Ilia Topuria, the reigning featherweight champion, isn’t mincing words when it comes to his next opponent. After a spectacular knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski, Topuria has set his sights on bigger challenges. But there’s a catch: he wants Max Holloway to put his BMF (Baddest Motherf****r) belt on the line if they’re going to fight.
In a recent interview, Topuria addressed Holloway directly: “You [Max] are the BMF champion. You have the opportunity to fight for the title. What are you going to do? Are you going to fight, or are you not going to fight?” The Spaniard’s demand is clear—he wants the BMF belt in play.
But Holloway’s response has been elusive. “Sign the contract,” Holloway says, but Topuria isn’t satisfied. “Where are you? Where are you? Put the [BMF] belt in the game,” Topuria challenges. “You want me to come and put this belt on the table, and you don’t want to put yours [on the table]?”
Ilia Topuria remains adamant that Max Holloway needs to put his BMF belt on the line if they fight, and says he'd rather fight Brian Ortega or Alexander Volkanovski if he doesn't:
"You [Max] are the BMF champion, you have the opportunity to fight for the title. What are you… pic.twitter.com/if34Nfaoil
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 30, 2024
The BMF belt, made famous by Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz, represents a certain swagger and toughness in the UFC. It’s not an official title, but it carries weight in the eyes of fans and fighters alike. Topuria believes that if Holloway truly wants to claim the BMF status, he should be willing to defend it against the new kid on the block.
Ilia Topuria has a Plan B if Max Holloway declines
But what if Holloway declines? Topuria has backup plans. He’d rather face Brian Ortega or Alexander Volkanovski. Ortega, who came close to finishing Volkanovski in their UFC 266 bout, is a tantalizing matchup for Topuria. And Volkanovski, despite losing the belt to Topuria, remains a formidable opponent.
“I would first give Volkanovski the rematch,” Topuria explains. “Before that, I would fight Brian Ortega, who was much closer to finishing Volkanovski in one fight than Max did in three.”
Brian Ortega, for his part, is also interested in a showdown with Ilia Topuria. “Let’s get a fight in Spain,” Ortega says. “I’m not against it. If I could snap my fingers and get the contract, and Topuria says yes, I’m ready.” Ortega knows that Ilia Topuria is the man to beat, and he’s eager to prove himself against the reigning champ.