Max Holloway passed a big test and the next one is coming up pretty quickly.
After a unanimous decision victory over Cole Miller on Saturday night, Holloway was told in the Octagon that the UFC is saving a spot for him at UFC on FOX 15 on April 18 in Newark — against Cub Swanson. That is the fight the organization is targeting for the event, according to UFC spokesman Dave Sholler.
That’s the plan. “@marc_raimondi: Cub Swanson vs. Max Holloway in Newark?”
— Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) February 15, 2015
Holloway (12-3) got the better of Miller standing at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch in Broomfield, Colo. A cut was opened up on Miller’s left eyebrow by a pair of Holloway incidental headbutts, but Holloway was clearly the more well-rounded fighter. He has now won four straight in the UFC and, at age 23, is one of the brightest young prospects in the featherweight division.
Swanson (21-6) has been one of the best fighters at 145 for years. Before his fifth-round submission loss to Frankie Edgar in November, he had won six in a row and was on the verge of a title shot. Swanson, 31, owns wins over the likes of Dennis Siver, Jeremy Stephens and Dustin Poirier.
UFC on FOX 15 will be headlined by a middleweight contender bout between Lyoto Machida and Luke Rockhold. The main event is also an important middleweight encounter: Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Yoel Romero. Paige VanZant will also meet Felice Herrig on the main card from Prudential Center.