![Fans reacted after Ilia Topuria seemingly confirms how Max Holloway bout was booked [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/5b1e0-17218535679852-1920.jpg)
![Fans reacted after Ilia Topuria seemingly confirms how Max Holloway bout was booked [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fans reacted after Ilia Topuria seemingly claimed that the UFC convinced Max Holloway to accept a featherweight title fight against him. The 27-year-old sharing the news signifies that an official announcement could be near regarding the highly anticipated bout.
The reigning UFC featherweight champion took to his X account and implied that the 'BMF' title holder was reluctant to accept a fight against him. 'El Matador' even went as far as mentioning that 'Blessed' was forced into fighting him. He wrote:
"It seems that the UFC has forced him to say yes. El Matador is back. Congratulations to all @ufc fans."
Check out Ilia Topuria's tweet below:
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Fans immediately took to the comments and put 'El Matador' on blast for insinuating that Holloway was ducking him and stalling negotiations for the bout. They mentioned that Topuria appears to be pushing a false narrative around his first title defense and that they aren't convinced about his reasoning, while others took a jibe at him. Fans wrote:
"Max said yes right away what are you on about?"
"Ilia still trying to push the 'Max is scared' narrative"
"Ilia going to be a great fictional book writer when he is done"
Check out more fan reactions below:
![Fan reaction to Topuria's tweet [Image courtesy: @Topuriailia - X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/ff3a9-17218523898804-1920.jpg)
Max Holloway previously claimed Ilia Topuria was stalling negotiations
Although Ilia Topuria recently claimed Max Holloway had avoided signing the contract for their bout, 'Blessed' previously made the same claim about the reigning UFC featherweight champion.
Following his spectacular knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, the 'BMF' title holder aimed at 'El Matador' during his post-fight interview. Holloway mentioned that Topuria was stalling negotiations for his first title defense because he was reluctant to sign a bout agreement. He said:
"There's an 'El Matador', he is running away from a bull at 145[pounds]. Tell him [to] sign the damn contract. Spain, Hawaii, wherever."
Check out Max Holloway's post-fight interview at UFC 300 below:
