Max Holloway Casts Doubt on Ilia Topuria’s Championship Streak

New UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is arguably on one of the best win streaks of all time, according to most spectators, but not Max Holloway.

Topuria, who is 17-0 (9-0 UFC), has put together one of the most impressive three straight performances inside the octagon, knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway, and most recently Charles Oliveira to become a two-division champion at UFC 317.

"Yeah, he beat the names, and you can't deny that. Then, when you look, it just sucks with everything that's going on when you look at that Volk fight – Volk coming off what he did (losing to Islam Makhachev by knockout). That's kind of crazy. But people just look at the name. They're not looking at the record,” Holloway said. 

In October 2024, Topuria knocked Holloway out at UFC 308 while defending his featherweight title for the first time. It was the first-ever knockout loss in Holloway’s career, but he thinks Topuria has been given a good hand. 

"They're just like, 'Oh, Alex was the champ,' and then me and then Charles. Charles was on a one-fight win streak,” Holloway added. 

To Holloway’s point, it seems like he’s referring to Volkanovski being compromised after returning so soon after being finished in his previous fight. He didn’t mention it there, however, Holloway has alluded to the fact that going back down to 145 pounds for their bout was tougher than earlier in his career. 

“At the end of the day, they're just moments and they're just names. It is one of the greatest names, for sure, that he beat in history. But the man is doing what he's supposed to do. The UFC are lining people up for him, and he's just knocking them down. So, fair play to him."