Sean O'Malley: 'Ilia Topuria is like a little Alex Pereira'

Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria defended his title for the first time in the UFC 308 main event on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.  “El Matador” knocked out former champion Max Holloway in the third round.

Topuria did what no other opponent Holloway had faced in his 14-year mixed martial arts career had been able to do; win by knockout.  Holloway had arguably never been knocked down before in a fight.  The Hawaiian has proven to be one of the most durable fighters in the promotion’s history.  

Watching Topuria and Holloway battle it out was former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley.  Topuria left “Suga” stunned.  In back-to-back fights, Topuria knocked out two of the greatest 145-pound fighters ever to step inside the octagon: Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway.    

“Ilia is that guy,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel in reaction to the knockout win.  “Who are 145 wants to fight Ilia right now?  Ilia is just so dangerous the whole fight.  He’s like a little f*cking Alex Pereira. 

Pereira holds the UFC light heavyweight title and previously held the middleweight championship.  He’s knocked out four of his last five opponents since moving up to the 205-pound weight class in July 2023.  Two of them were former champions.  Ten of his twelve career wins have been by knockout.  

“You can’t tell me Ilia versus Islam [Makhachev] isn’t a fight you wouldn’t want to see,” O’Malley said.  “You hate seeing Max – That’s the fight game.  Ilia’s the man right now.”

“Ilia has a sick style.  As much as I’ve talked sh*t about him, he’s dangerous everywhere,” O’Malley continued.