Georgian mixed martial arts fighter Ilia Topuria won the UFC featherweight championship belt on October 26, 2024, by knocking out the reigning champion, Alexander Volkanovski, in the second round. You can watch UFC fights on 1xBet live from your phone or PC. Before that, Topuria had not lost a single fight in the organization, stepping into the Octagon seven times in a row. The fighter made his first title defense against the experienced Hawaiian Max Holloway. At that point, his opponent had already fought for the title in this weight class five times, but each time he lost to more experienced or younger champions. You can experience the atmosphere of the fight live on 1xBet, where you can also place a bet on your favorite. The bout took place in Abu Dhabi and was immediately hailed as one of the most anticipated events of the year due to the contrasting styles of the two fighters.
What was the champion’s fight strategy?
Topuria started the fight cautiously, sizing up the distance against his experienced opponent. By the second round, the Georgian fighter had noticeably stepped up his activity and landed several precise right-hand strikes on Holloway. By the way, the 1xBet line for the UFC also offers betting options on par with other sports. The third round proved decisive: the champion first staggered his opponent with a single strike, then finished the attack with a left side kick to the head, after which Holloway fell to the Octagon floor. The fight was stopped exactly one minute and thirty-four seconds into the third round. By the time the fight was stopped, two of the three judges had scored the bout in Topuria’s favor, 20–18. If you want to bet on MMA, check out the betting line on the 1xBet website and choose the next fight. Key moments of this fight:
- Topuria became the first fighter in Holloway’s career to knock him out at the professional level.
- For Ilia himself, this victory marked his seventh consecutive win in the organization without a single loss.
- Before facing Topuria, Holloway had fought nine title bouts in his weight class.
- The time the fight was stopped ranked among the fastest finishes of all title defenses that season.
After this victory, Topuria announced his move to a heavier weight class and relinquished the belt he had won, without making a single title defense. In his new weight class, he faced Brazilian Charles Oliveira and claimed the second championship belt of his career by knocking out his opponent in the first round.
This fight remains an example of how precise strategy throughout the entire bout can lead to a decisive victory even over the most experienced and tenacious opponent.
