"Max is knocking him out" - Fans react to footage of when Ilia Topuria sparred with ex-UFC champion last year

Ilia Topuria's boxing training sessions have captivated fans since his rise in the UFC, and recently, an old sparring video of him with a former UFC welterweight champion surfaced on social media.

'El Matador' is slated for the first defense of his featherweight title against former champion Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308. The highly anticipated bout is set to take place on Oct. 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Ahead of the fight, ESPN MMA shared footage showcasing Topuria sparring with Kamaru Usman at the Kill Cliff FC gym in Florida. This clip, dating back to 2023, has sparked considerable discussion among the MMA community.

Check out the video below:

Fans responded to Topuria's training video with a flurry of reactions, with many asserting that 'Blessed' would struggle to withstand the elite striking prowess of the undefeated Spaniard. Conversely, others expressed confidence in Holloway's abilities.

One fan wrote:

"I have seen enough; Topuria beats Belal [Muhammad] at 170 [pounds]."

Another wrote:

"Max is knocking him out."

Check out some more reactions below:

Credits: Comments on @espnmma

'El Matador' secured the 145-pound championship with a knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. Since then, Topuria has confidently proclaimed his skills, asserting that he will be the first fighter to knock out Holloway.

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When Joe Rogan praised Ilia Topuria's pad work and drew comparisons to Floyd Mayweather

During an episode of his podcast featuring American neuroscientist Andrew Huberman in August, Joe Rogan reviewed a training video of Ilia Topuria working the pads. The UFC commentator was genuinely captivated by the exceptional punching technique displayed 'El Matador':

"One of the things that is phenomenal about him is his technique. His technique is perfect. There’s no fat in his technique. There’s no wasted movements, so when an opportunity presents itself, everything is so fast because the technique is so streamlined."

Rogan further drew parallels between Topuria's hand speed and technique and those of boxing icon Floyd Mayweather:

"Look at how he hits the pads, and when you watch how he hits pads, Mayweather is a great example of that, as well. Some of the best hands in the sport... See how he’s moving his head when the guy throws punches? Slipping just slightly? The speed, man. The f**king speed of that. Look at the hand speed. F**king incredible. If you know how difficult that is to do and do it that fast."

Check out Joe Rogan's comments below (59:40):