Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway – two of MMA’s greatest boxers – will collide this Saturday for the featherweight crown at UFC 308.
It goes without saying that MMA is among the toughest sports on the planet, with the multiple disciplines required taking years to perfect.
The art of pugilism, for instance, does not always come naturally to mixed martial artists, with Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway representing just two who have shone in that department.
And so, with both combatants knowing exactly how to end a fight in style, it only makes sense to rank the UFC’s top five boxers.
5. Alex Pereira
Adopting a fluid but explosive kickboxing style, Alex Pereira has cemented his status as one of the UFC’s most prolific knockout artists.
The 37-year-old has ended four of his last seven contests with his fists, dispatching the likes of MMA legend Israel Adesanya and top contender Khalil Rountree Jr in dramatic fashion.
His stoppage against Sean Strickland back in 2022, however, was arguably the Brazilian’s most devastating.
It was a perfectly timed left hook that sent the American crashing down to the canvas, with Pereira proving that, even after boiling himself down to 185 lbs, he still carries dynamite in both hands.
4. Conor McGregor
Regardless of what his future may hold, Conor McGregor is undoubtedly one of the most lethal punchers to grace the UFC.
Despite getting comprehensively outboxed by Floyd Mayweather back in 2017, the Irishman has forged a formidable legacy for himself in the octagon, boasting an 80 percent knockout ratio in MMA’s flagship organization.
His most emphatic finish, though, came against Jose Aldo in 2015, when the combat sports star walked the Brazilian onto one of his signature left hands, halting proceedings within the first 13 seconds.
3. Max Holloway
In truth, Holloway’s ability to stand and trade with his opponents – often outlasting them in a toe-to-toe exchange – can largely be explained by his remarkable durability.
With nearly half of his victories ending inside the distance, the American is able to befuddle his opponents by seamlessly switching stance, allowing him to land his shots from unorthodox angles.
But even when considering the enthralling battles throughout his illustrious career, it would be impossible to look past Holloway’s finish at the death against Justin Gaethje, who succumbed to his opponent’s relentless onslaught at UFC 300.
2. Dustin Poirier
At lightweight, Dustin Poirier has become one of the sport’s most spiteful finishers, amassing an incredible 16 victories via stoppage.
Known for his methodical approach to MMA, ‘The Diamond’ has married his technical prowess with a ruthless killer instinct, most notably securing back-to-back knockouts against McGregor.
But perhaps his most polished display, one could say, came against Gaethje in 2018, when Poirier landed a sharp left hand before following the shot up with a blistering combination.
1. Ilia Topuria
Unbeaten featherweight king Ilia Topuria is, without a shadow of doubt, one of MMA’s all-time greatest boxers.
The Spaniard arguably possesses the most refined kickboxing style in the UFC roster, always finding a way to create openings with his sensational footwork.
After all, he proved against legendary fighter Alexander Volkanovski – a decorated boxer in his own right – that, even when he faces the most seasoned of operators, the 27-year-old carries the power to switch his opponent’s lights out at any moment.
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