Ilia Topuria gives Holloway first KO loss to defend UFC title

UFC featherweight world champion Ilia Topuria added another highlight finish to his resume following a third-round knockout over Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 earlier today at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Topuria, unbeaten as a mixed martial artist with a perfect record of 16-0, dared the former world champion Holloway to go toe-to-toe in the center of the cage early in the five-round contest.

Holloway seemingly had other plans but they nevertheless engaged in a barnburner that saw them throw and land punches to the head and body. Topuria's relentless aggression and endless cardio took over in round three, where he landed a left hook that sent Holloway to the canvas.

Eager to become the first fighter to stop Holloway, Topuria quickly followed up with more punches to the head which prompted the referee to halt the contest at the 1:34 mark of the stanza.

In the co-main event, unbeaten prospect Khamzat Chimaev continued his winning ways by submitting former UFC middleweight world champion Robert Whittaker in the first round, improving his record to 14-0 while Whittaker fell to 26-9.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News