Ilia Topuria is confident he will be the first man to knockout Max Holloway at UFC 308.

Topuria holds a perfect unbeaten record in professional MMA and was crowned the UFC featherweight champion in February when he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski.

Topuria brutally knocked out Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year to claim his titleGetty

‘El Matador’ only made his debut with Dana White’s promotion in October 2020 and it took him just six fights to springboard to championship status.

He shocked the world at UFC 298 when he upset Volkanovski against all odds, finishing the Australian in the second round to win the 145-pound title.

Holloway, meanwhile, is a UFC veteran who has fought in the organisation 29 times since his debut in 2012 against Dustin Poirier.

All of the 32-year-old’s defeats in the UFC have come via decision or submission, including his loss to Conor McGregor in August 2013.

‘Blessed’ would claim the featherweight title for the first time four years after his debut, defending the belt on three occasions before dropping it to Poirier at UFC 236.

The Hawaii native rescued the chance to fight for UFC Gold in April after a trilogy of defeats to Volkanovski, who he lost the belt to for the second time in 2019.

He knocked out Justin Gaethje in the final second of the pair’s bout at UFC 300 to be crowned the BMF champion, in what was, arguably, the fight of 2024.

Now, Holloway fights 27-year-old Topuria in the main event of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26.

“I don’t have any doubts that I will be the first one to knock you out,” Topuria told Holloway in a recent face-to-face interview with the UFC.

“I don’t even want you to trust in that because if you’re starting to trust in what I’m saying, you’re not going to show up, and I need you to show up in the fight.

Holloway slept Gaethje with a second left on the clock at UFC 300Getty

“The only thing I’m going to do is take your lights out and party with all my people, all my team. That’s what I’m going to do – ‘And Still’. This is what’s going to happen.”

Topuria admitted during the conversation that he was once a fan of Holloway in the UFC and that he even used his skills to make him the ‘perfect fighter’ he is today.

‘Blessed’ continuously referred to sorting out the trash talk in the octagon – a common theme of the interview – especially when asked about Topuria’s outspoken confidence.

“It is what it is, people need different motivations and that’s his motivation,” Holloway said.

“I just can’t wait, we get to solve all of this talking on October 26 when the cage door closes and may the better man win.”

But Topuria didn’t take the Hawaiians’ response too lightly.

“No one is gonna save you once that cage is closed, my friend, no one,” he said.

Topuria with Sergio Ramos, who is a massive UFC fan, at the Santiago BernabeuGetty

Holloway responded: “No one’s gonna save you too buddy… actually, the referee is gonna save you buddy. The ref is in there to save you.”

‘El Matador’ garnered the attention of his entire nation by knocking out Volkanovski to become the first Spanish UFC champion.

Only a week after his victory, Topuria was honoured at a Real Madrid game against Sevilla.

He took the ceremonial kick-off inside the Santiago Bernabeu, where he was pictured with some of the Spanish giants’ biggest stars.

Topuria even had a front row seat for Holloway’s KO over Gaethje. Although he was caught on camera in disbelief at the outcome, along with UFC stars Israel Adesanya and Tom Aspinall, the Spaniard had no kind words for his future opponent.

“I was so bored watching that fight,” he said. “The only thing exciting about that fight was the last 10 seconds. 

“But I didn’t see any technique in that fight. I didn’t see any strategy…I just saw a bar fight. 

“It was very spectacular for the fans, but for me, as a professional, it [wasn’t] something very impressive to be honest, because you can impress everyone but you know the technique behind that knockout and it was zero.”

Holloway was quick to refer to Topuria’s reaction on camera after he dropped Gaethje with one second remaining at UFC 300.

“I challenge you to have that exchange in the first 10 seconds of the fight and you will see what’s going to happen,” ‘El Matador’ said.

“When you face a fighter like me inside the octagon, who brings that technique and that power, you can’t do that. I’m going to take your head off if you do that.”

A stacked main event card for UFC 308 will take place in the UAE on October 26.

Robert Whittaker takes on Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event, while Lerone Murphy faces Dan Ige and Magomed Ankalaev takes on Aleksandar Rakic.