Reflecting on Ilia Topuria’s formidable strength at UFC 308, Sean O’Malley couldn’t help but express his astonishment at Topuria’s prowess. As the featherweight champion, Topuria holds an unbroken streak of victories (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), with his recent triumphant knockout of Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in the primary contest hosted in Abu Dhabi, marking yet another addition to this ledger.
On witnessing Topuria’s earth-shattering endgame, O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC), widely known for his live commentary, was left in awe of Topuria’s finishing tactics. He admired Topuria’s relentless aggression and the intensity he maintained right till the final bell. Acknowledging the almost adroit elegance with which Topuria ‘pounced,’ O’Malley commended, ‘Ilia is indeed an exceptional finisher.’
Notwithstanding his preference for Holloway, O’Malley indicated that Topuria might have just edged ahead in the first round, aided significantly by his decisive move to seize his opponent’s back towards the close of play. That said, he was quick to include that the opening round was indeed an intensely fought bout.
The second round, in O’Malley’s scorecard, leaned in favor of Holloway. However, the tables turned when Topuria delivered a formidable left hook in Round 3. This masterstroke alteration was enough for O’Malley to sing praises of ‘El Matador,’ whom he had shown prior interest in competing against.
Drawing an analogy to underline Topuria’s finesse in finishing, O’Malley likened him to the UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. This comparison was significant, considering Pereira’s accolades include four consecutive knockouts of his adversaries.
The way Ilia shook Holloway was a sight O’Malley could not forget. ‘Ilia’s punch landed with such a force that Holloway was visibly distressed,’ O’Malley exclaimed. However, Holloway’s attempt to downplay his disarray did not escape O’Malley’s discerning eyes.
In the third round, Topuria released a deft left hook that took Holloway down for the count. O’Malley admitted to being bowled over by this unexpected turn of events. ‘Ilia has proven yet again why he is reckoned to be the superior fighter. His spectacular performance is indisputable,’ praised O’Malley.
In light of Ilia’s recent performance, O’Malley pondered about those in the featherweight division who would be willing to face Ilia in the Octagon. His aggressive, no-holds-barred fighting style invoked a comparison to Pereira once again. O’Malley asserted that as a fighter as dangerous as Ilia is, none would be in a hurry to pick a fight with him.
Ilia’s show of raw power and strategy evoked a prospective fight in O’Malley’s mind. He suspected the face-off between Islam Makhachev and Ilia would be a spectacle that every MMA fan would be eagerly waiting to witness.
The loss of O’Malley’s bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in September was a hard blow for him. However, what followed was even more challenging as it led to hip surgery, forcing him out of the sport for a while.
After his surgery, O’Malley’s journey to recovery has now directed him towards a potential comeback. He has not kept this a secret and has shared his intention of returning to the ring in the first half of 2025.