Max Holloway didn’t move a muscle in his stare down with Ilia Topuria ahead of their title fight at UFC 308 on Saturday.
‘Blessed’ is once again back in a UFC title bout for the first time in over two years.
Holloway knocked out Gaethje in the final second at UFC 300Getty
He knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 with just one second remaining in their 25 minute fight to earn a shot at championship gold again.
His opponent, Topuria, won the UFC featherweight belt for the first time after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February.
Holloway’s last title fight came against Volkanovski, who he lost to for the third time in a row via unanimous decision in July 2022.
Both men squared off on Friday at the UFC 308 ceremonial weigh-ins that took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The pair headline a stacked card on Saturday that also has Robert Whittaker challenging Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event.
Manchester’s Lerone Murphy is undefeated in the UFC and he takes on Dan Ige, while No.1 ranked light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev faces Aleksandar Rakic.
Topuria shocked fans when he walked out alongside former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos to his weigh-in.
The ceremonial weigh-ins offers fans the opportunity to see all fighters on the card up close and personal for one last time before fight night.
After making weight earlier in the day, Topuria and Holloway had their last handshake before entering the octagon in their highly anticipated contest on Saturday night at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
Topuria was full of chat when they came eye-to-eye, while Holloway simply stared and nodded as if looking through the soul of his Spanish counterpart.
Topuria with Sergio Ramos, is a massive UFC fan, at the Santiago BernabeuGetty
“I’m the best in the world…I have worked my ass off…I’ve got something for you,” Topuria appeared to say.
“Let’s go, boy…I’m going to be the first one to knock you out – trust me.”
During the buildup to their bout, Topuria has been insistent that he will be the first person to knockout Holloway, who has never been finished in the UFC.
The 27-year-old only made his UFC debut four years ago and has just 15 professional fights on his record, compared to Holloway’s 33.
MMA fans from around the world reacted to the video of the two men coming together for the last time.
One said: “I really hope Topuria gets humbled this weekend. Dude is obnoxious.”
While another added: “Look at Max just not giving a single f*** what he’s saying.”
Topuria defends his featherweight belt against Holloway on SaturdayGetty
A third commented: “He can keep on talking all he wants. Max is focusing on one thing and one thing only, becoming champ tomorrow no matter what.”
And a fourth said: “Max ain’t listening.”
Elsewhere on the card, Whittaker has vowed he will do everything in his power to not let Chimaev out-wrestle him in their co-main event bout.
The Chechnya native has said he is the best wrestler in the UFC, but Australia’s Whittaker told talkSPORT exclusively that he aims to take his opponents ‘head off’, having left ‘no stone unturned’ in his training camp.
