Ilia Topuria loss or not, Max Holloway says he's still UFC's top boxer

Despite getting knocked out by Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway's confidence hasn't been shaken.

Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23- 8 UFC) was knocked out for the first time in his career by Topuria in their featherweight title fight at UFC 308 last October. He has since rebounded with a BMF title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318.

Holloway declared himself as the best boxer in the UFC when he was in a flow state against Calvin Kattar in their main event in January 2021. With "Blessed" holding the record for most significant strikes landed in UFC history, his stance hasn't changed.

"A lot of people are going to tell me you're not because of the fight with Ilia, but It is what it is, bro," Holloway said on The Korean Zombie's YouTube channel. "That's your problem. If you don't think I'm the best boxer in the UFC, that's something you need to take up with yourself. When I look myself in the mirror, I tell myself I'm the best boxer in the UFC and that's why I am one of the best fighters in the world. You just need self confidence. No internet guy that lives with his mom, that's talking to me on his mom's internet, is ever going to shake me."

Holloway is also owner of spectacular knockouts over the likes of Chan Sung Jung, and an iconic last-second one over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Max Holloway says he's best boxer in UFC, not champ Ilia Topuria