Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is currently in the running for the next 155-pound title shot, thanks to his stunning “BMF” performance against lightweight contender Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 last month in Las Vegas.
Holloway is not expected to pose a “huge threat” to current champion, Islam Makhachev.
“I mean, it really comes down to strategy and gameplan,” coach Javier Mendez told Submission Radio. “And that’s like what I alluded to, was Justin Gaethje. He doesn’t use his wrestling. Islam Makhachev is not going to go and stand with Max [for] the whole five rounds. He’s going to take him down, he’s going to work him on the ground. [If] Max gets up, he’s going to take him down again. He’s going to beat him in the stand up, beat him on the ground.”
Makhachev (25-1) averages 3.17 takedowns per 15 minutes of action. Holloway (26-7) has been outwrestled multiple times in his MMA career against the likes of Alex Volkanovski, Frankie Edgar, and Brian Ortega, just to make a few.
“So, it’ll be a grueling situation for Max,” Mendez continued. “Not as much for Islam. Because Max doesn’t really have great wrestling defense, nor does he care to have it. So, I don’t look at him as a huge threat. Though, he’s proven us wrong. So, he can very well prove us wrong. And the fans may want to see it. So, if the fans want to see it, Islam wants the fight, UFC offers it, there it is, there’s the next one.”
UFC has yet to decide if Holloway or Arman Tsarukyan will be granted the next crack at the 155-pound crown. That decision may depend on whether or not Makhachev retains his title when he collides with Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 next month in Newark.
For much more on that upcoming fight click here.