Max Holloway mocks Real Madrid and Ilia Topuria ahead of UFC title bout as underdog reveals the rival club that has sent a gift and is backing him to reign victorious
- The American mocked Real Madrid and Ilia Topuria ahead of his UFC title fight
- Max Holloway revealed he has received a personal gift from Madrid’s rivals
- Topuria is favorite heading into the huge title fight in Abu Dhabi
Max Holloway’s title fight against Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 saw the rivalry supported by two of the world’s biggest football clubs, who will also do battle on the pitch this weekend.
American fighter Holloway wants to become UFC featherweight champion in Abu Dhabi and will have to end Topuria’s undefeated record to do so.
Topuria is the favorite heading into the clash after brutally eliminating Alexander Volkanovski in February, but faces a difficult first title defense against an inspired Holloway.
Now Barcelona are trying to help Holloway over the line by sending the 32-year-old a personalized homme shirt ahead of his upcoming Topuria match.
That’s because Topuria is a Real Madrid supporter and despite originally being from Germany, he fights from Alicante, Spain and shares a close relationship with the mega football club.
Max Holloway (left) vs. Ilia Topuria (right)’s title fight at UFC 308 saw the rivalry supported by two of the world’s biggest football clubs
Topuria is favorite heading into the big match after knocking out former champion Alex Volkanovski (left)
When Topuria triumphed early this year, Madrid celebrated his victory over Volkanovski by hailing him in a social media post, calling him ‘a great Madridista’.
The club later welcomed him to the Santiago Bernabeu and recognized his performance before a match, with Barcelona now opting to back their next opponent.
Barcelona sent Holloway a personalized home shirt ahead of his upcoming fight
Real Madrid are backing Topuria and want him to reign victorious in their title defense against Holloway
Coincidentally, LaLiga leaders Barcelona will travel to Madrid on the same day of Topuria’s clash with Holloway for a mouth-watering first El Clásico clash of the season.
Holloway revealed his gift, showing off a number 9 shirt – usually worn by Robert Lewandowski – with his name engraved on the back.
Confidently backing himself to reign victorious, Holloway held up the Barcelona strip and said: ‘I got this gift from Barcelona and they gave me the number nine for striker because they know.
“Barcelona’s kit and I think Barcelona will play two-nil on Saturday night,” he said in an attempt to mock Madrid and Topuria.
