Midnight Mania: ‘I Decide Who, When, And Where’

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

The title situation is getting a little testy between BMF strap-hanger Max Holloway and undisputed UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

Holloway, understandably, is at the top of the world right now. “Blessed” smoked Justin Gaethje on the UFC 300 main card (watch highlights), earning the BMF belt in one of the greatest knockouts of all time and a masterclass technical performance. At 32 years of age, Holloway is back in prime position to contend for a title at whichever weight class he chooses, and it seems that his sights are on Featherweight gold.

Initially, Topuria was uninterested in fighting Holloway. After the Hawaiian’s big UFC 300 win, however, Topuria changed course and was willing to target Holloway next. However, this adjustment comes with the caveat that Topuria wants Holloway’s BMF belt to be on the line.

The result has been a bit of friction between the two champions. In a recent social media post, Topuria met Holloway’s mild trash talk with a fairly simply ultimatum: put the BMF belt on the line, or else he intends to fight Brian Ortega instead. Oh, and Topuria is in charge of deciding when and where the fight happens too.

“The only thing questionable about me is whether I finish you by ko or submission,” Topuria wrote. “I just beat the guy that beat you not once, not twice, but 3 times. You now have the one thing that keeps you relevant and that would grant you a money fight, the BMF belt. I no longer fight for money but for legacy.

“Winning that belt while holding my title will cement me as the first. The first to hold both belts. The first to knock out Volk and what most certainly will happen when we fight, the first one to put you to sleep. Something to calm you down is this: God doesn’t shame anyone. You will have a worthy defeat against a champion who will be remembered for eternity. I decide who, when, and where. If you don’t like the terms I’m sure Ortega will oblige.”

Technically, Alexander Volkanovski lost two fights via knockout prior to coughing up his belt to Topuria, but we’ll chalk that up to creative license. Trash talk aside, there’s a relevant third party here: UFC brass, including UFC CEO Dana White, likely have a say in who, when, where, and what belts are on the line.

Now, Topuria does have leverage as an undefeated champion and serious European star. Holloway also has his leverage as a beloved former champion and current BMF kingpin. UFC has the final say in actually sending out contracts and booking fights. Hopefully, all three parties can come together, negotiate, and get something booked in relatively smooth fashion.

This match up would be too good to miss.

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