UFC 308: Max Holloway 'falling into Ilia Topuria's trap' ahead of featherweight title fight claims Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping has claimed Max Holloway may be falling into Ilia Topuria’s trap ahead of UFC 308. Topuria is set to defend his belt for the first time, while Holloway is looking to reclaim the featherweight crown off the back of three-straight victories. Ahead of the fight, Topuria has seemingly attempted to frustrate Holloway, talking over him in their press conference and insulting his boxing.

'Holloway might be falling into the trap' - Bisping breaks down UFC 308 main event

Video credit: TNT Sports

Max Holloway is “falling into Ilia Topuria’s trap” ahead of the pair’s UFC 308 encounter on Saturday, Michael Bisping has claimed.

TNT Sports Box Office will exclusively show live coverage of UFC 308 as Topuria and Holloway go toe to toe in the main event for the featherweight title.

Topuria (15-0) is set to defend his belt for the first time, having become Spain’s first ever UFC champion back in February courtesy of a knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski in his first title fight.

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Meanwhile, Holloway is looking to reclaim the featherweight crown and enters the bout on the back of a three-fight win streak, including a contender for knockout of the year at UFC 300 against Justin Gaethje.

Ahead of the fight, Topuria has seemingly attempted to frustrate Holloway, talking over him in their press conference, and suggesting he would appropriate the US star’s calling card of marching to the centre of the octagon to invite his opponent to engage in a striking exchange.

Ilia Topuria in his press conference ahead of UFC 308

Image credit: Getty Images

Former UFC middleweight champion Bisping exclusively told TNT Sports: “I spoke to a couple of people today, they did some interviews with Max and they said, ‘I’ve known Max for a long time but this is the first time I’ve seen him annoyed, I’ve seen him irritated.’

“And he’s been in there with a lot of people that talk smart and try and get in his face and use psychological warfare.

“But Ilia Topuria is really starting to get to him, whether it’s walking around with the belt on, or criticising his boxing. That’s exactly what Ilia Topuria is trying to do and Max Holloway may be falling into the trap.

“The best plan for Ilia Topuria is if Max Holloway stands there, plants his feet and then gets thrown down. They’re both incredible fighters, they’re both magnificent boxers, ridiculously good strikers. But Ilia has bigger power - he has true one punch power.

“Max has great power, he can knock people out, but if you had to pick one thing that was different between the fighters, it’s the power of Ilia Topuria and I’m telling you, Max Holloway is falling into the trap.”

'Maybe we get big questions answered' - Bisping and Peet look ahead to Topuria v Holloway at UFC 308

Video credit: TNT Sports

Holloway vs Topuria’s heated press conference

Holloway and Topuria’s pre-fight press conference was peppered with heated exchanges.

Notably, when it was put to Holloway that his opponent was considering pointing to the ground from the very first round, it led to a half minute exchange between the fighters.

The American was pleading with his opponent to “calm down” and “let him talk” as Topuria insisted he would “point to the ground”.

When Topuria was asked whether he was confident he would be the first person to knock Holloway out, the Spaniard said: “Not one of [Holloway’s past opponents] have the power that I have in my hands.”

He added: “I will be the first man to take his lights out.”

HOW TO WATCH UFC 308: Topuria v Holloway

UFC 308: Topuria vs Holloway will be exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office and will cost £19.99 in the UK and can be watched on discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video, Virgin Media TV and Sky Sports. You do not need to be a TNT Sports subscriber to buy either event.

discovery+ - TNT Sports Box Office events are available to purchase and watch in the discovery+ app – on smart TV’s, computer or mobile device. Viewers wanting to watch the fight should visit https://www.discoveryplus.com/gb/ppv-purchases and follow instructions to subscribe and then purchase the event.

EE TV - Customers can purchase the event via their STB on channel 494.

Prime Video - Customers do not need to have a Prime or discovery+ subscription to access this event. You can find live and upcoming PPV events in the “Live and upcoming events” row on the Prime Video homepage and sports page, or by searching for a specific event title.

Virgin Media TV - Customers with a TiVo and/or V6 set-top-box should visit the On-Demand section and choose Live Events; customers with a Virgin TV 360 and/or Stream set-top-box should go to the Pay Per View events rail.

Sky Sports - customers can purchase on channel 490 via their remote control or via https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/tnt-sports. Customers in the Republic of Ireland can purchase TNT Sports Box Office via Sky for €29.99 at https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/tnt-sports

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