Poatan and Topuria are favorites for 'Fighter of the Year' (Photo: Montage/SUPER LUTAS)
The knockout of Ilia Topuria about Max Holloway in the featherweight (up to 65,7 kg) belt dispute of UFC 308, last Saturday (26), may have cost dearly for Alex Poatán. At least that's what UFC welterweight veteran Matt Brown thinks.
In a recent edition of the podcast 'The Fighter vs. The Writer', the American fighter stated that he believes that the victory over Holloway, added to the belt conquest over Volkanovski in February, are enough elements to put the featherweight champion ahead of the light heavyweight champion in the race for the 'Fighter of the Year' award.
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"Alex Poatán didn't knock out three pound-for-pound greats. Ilia Topuria “He knocked out two pound-for-pound greats. As good as the guys Alex faced were, they weren’t Holloway or Volkanovski. I don’t think anyone on this planet expected anyone to do what Ilia did. If Max and Volk had fought welterweights, I don’t think anyone would have expected them both to get knocked out. As impressive as Alex was, it’s a shame we can’t have two Fighter of the Year awards because they both deserve it,” lamented the ‘Immortal’.
In Matt Brown's opinion, the weight of the opponents overcome by Topuria and especially the fact that he was the first athlete to knock out Max Holloway in their career, they end any discussion with Alex Poatán for the prize.
“I don’t think you can compare. I’m on the Ilia train for ‘Fighter of the Year.’ I wish we could give Alex something. What he did was memorable, but it wasn’t with Holloway and Volkanovski. If Alex had done that with Jon Jones, okay. He didn't get that chance. Alex beat the guys that were available. Ilia beat two of the greatest legends in the history of the sport. He knocked them out. Nobody knocks people out. Max Holloway. You have to give it to Ilia. The debate is set,” he said.
Read More about: Alex Poatán, Ilia Topuria, poatan, UFC
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