SUMMARY
- Max Holloway is set to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
- Kevin Iole recently interviewed the former featherweight champion, Max Holloway.
Max Holloway, the American UFC fighter, is currently the #1 contender in the featherweight division. With a professional career since 2008, he has also competed in the lightweight division. On April 13, 2024, Holloway is gearing up for a showdown against Justin Gaethje for the BMF belt at UFC 300, following his recent triumph over Arnold Allen.
Kevin Iole recently interviewed the former featherweight champion, Max Holloway. When asked about his decision to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and how that came to be, Holloway stated his reasons. “Oliveira and Islam was booked, I just came off a big win with ‘Korean Zombie’, and then the ‘45 title was booked too at the same time,” Holloway told Kevin Iole.
“So, he had the BMF belt and I like options. At ‘45, I think the next step for me is back for the title. We was being undeniable. We had that third fight with ‘Volk’. I had to go fight Arnold [Allen]. We did that. They gave me the fight against ‘Korean Zombie’ over out in Asia, and that was a fun one. We did that, and what’s next is a title shot, we was thinking,” Holloway further added.
“Justin Gaethje looked like he needed a dance partner since Oliveira and Islam was booked at the time, and just threw my name in the hat. The BMF belt is great. Being right there at ‘55, being that ‘55 weight class is right there, only 10 pounds away from ‘45, I can do both classes. Why not throw my name in the hat?” Holloway explained.
With that, it is still to be seen how the event turns out to be. If anything, this fight could promise to be one of the most exciting fights on the UFC 300 main card.
Max Holloway is excited about UFC 300 and the magnitude of the event
In response to Kevin Iole’s question about how he thinks the fight might unfold, Max Holloway expressed his anticipation for the event, stating that the intriguing aspect is discovering it at UFC 300. He conveyed his happiness at being the headliner of the card and emphasized his desire to be part of UFC 300.
Holloway conveyed his excitement about facing Justin Gaethje, expressing his joy at the prospect of competing for the BMF belt. He noted the similarity in their fighting styles, with the main distinction being the perceived difference in power.
Holloway expressed eagerness to gauge Gaethje’s punching and kicking strength. He refers to their upcoming bout on April 13, as a “fun one.” He conveyed his excitement for the challenge, stating that these are the types of fights that excite him.
Justin Gaethje vs Max Holloway’BMF’ Title fight at UFC 300. Book it! #UFC #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/N6u72e5SX2
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) January 8, 2024
Holloway acknowledged that he desired to be part of the card with honor. He also felt honored to share the Octagon with one of the best to ever do it, Justin Gaethje. He further emphasized that he won’t be around for the UFC 400 and expressed his anticipation for the upcoming event.
Max Holloway foresees new opportunities after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 300
Max Holloway is on a two-fight winning streak. He is optimistic about the opportunities that may arise if he can defeat Justin Gaethje. Holloway faced a setback with three consecutive championship losses to Alexander Volkanovski, the current champion. But he believes that a victory over Gaethje could open numerous doors for him.
When questioned by Kevin Iole, Holloway expressed his thoughts, stating, “It’s options, I think a lot of doors are going to get opened, a lot of options are going to be open. We’ll see what happens. … First things first is the man in front of me. I got a dangerous guy in Justin Gaethje, but we’re going to handle him first, and then after that, like I said: It’s just a game of options”.
Emphasizing his focus on the immediate challenge, Holloway added, “A lot of things can open up after this fight. That’s what I’m focused on. Focused on getting my hand raised, and shock the world, I guess”.
Sitting at the top of the rankings in the 145-lbs division, Holloway could potentially leapfrog contenders at 155 lbs. If he delivers a more impressive performance than Oliveira and Tsarukyan in their title eliminator fight at UFC 300.
The resume of Max Holloway
🏴Arnold Allen
🇲🇽Yair Rodriguez
🇺🇸Calvin Kattar
🇲🇽Brian Ortega
🇧🇷Jose Aldo
🇧🇷Jose Aldo 2
🇰🇷Korean Zombie
🇺🇸Frankie Edgar
🇺🇸Anthony Pettis
🇧🇷Charles Oliviera
🇺🇸Cub Swanson
🇧🇷Ricardo Lamas
🇺🇸Jeremy StephensInarguably a future UFC Hall of Famer#UFC pic.twitter.com/CVwLvPuHNd
— 🐐𝙎𝙩-𝙋𝙞𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙧 (@GoatStPiHair) August 26, 2023
Alternatively, he may position himself for a title shot against the winner of the Featherweight title bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria, scheduled for UFC 298 on February 17, 2024. Who do you think will come out on top at UFC 300, Holloway or Gaethje? Tell us in the comments below.